The list of items on Ryley Batt's Paralympic Games bucket list is growing shorter by the day after he ticked off 'team flagbearer' ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games.
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Batt, alongside fellow Australian team co-captain Danni di Toro, were both confirmed as the Australian team's flagbearers for the opening ceremony on August 24.
It's a secret that wife Crystal and daughters Aaliyah and Lily have had to keep a secret for a couple of weeks before it was announced at an official ceremony in Tokyo on August 23.
"For someone to give so much to their sport, it's something we do day-to-day. His sport is basically another person in our relationship, so for them to acknowledge the person that he is is just spectacular," Mrs Batt said.
While the family are proud as punch, it came with mixed emotions as they won't be in attendance due to COVID regulations that will prevent crowds from attending.
They will have to watch their main man do his thing from the comfort of their Mid-North Coast lounge room, some 7500 kilometres away.
"For someone to give so much to their sport, it's something we do day-to-day. His sport is basically another person in our relationship, so for them to acknowledge the person that he is is just spectacular."
- Crystal Batt
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The entire Games campaign will be an emotional one with the three girls - and their pet cavoodle Archie - all set to be glued to their television sets.
"To not have anyone here be able to sit with us will be hard and it will just be the three of us and our little dog watching him play, but it doesn't change anything," she said.
"We're still extremely proud and will be sitting alongside every other Australian with the tv on watching the game wide-eyed. We can't wait."
Mrs Batt said the family were starting to swell with pride knowing more people around the world were starting to gain an insight into the person her husband was.
"He will do anything for anyone and it's that kind of personality that once you meet him you want him in your life forever and that's why so many people around the world know him," she said
"As soon as they see that side they don't want to not have him in their life. He's that special person.
"Sometimes he thinks he knows better than the referees but when he is off the court he is the sweetest, kindest, most compassionate person you will ever meet in your life."
"Sometimes he thinks he knows better than the referees but when he is off the court he is the sweetest, kindest, most compassionate person you will ever meet in your life."
- Crystal Batt
Batt has won gold medals, he is co-captain of the entire Paralympic team, captain of the Steelers and now dual flagbearer.
There isn't much left to tick off.
Ryley Batt and the Australian Steelers open their Paralympic Games campaign against Denmark on August 25 at 3pm AEST.
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