Amanda Reid

Amanda Reid might just be the most wildly talented para-athlete Australia has ever produced.

The 28-year-old NSW-born multi-sport star is a four-time Paralympian and dual cycling gold medallist, owns a World Championship gold medal in snowboarding, and first competed at the Paralympics in the pool as a 15-year-old.

Born with cerebral palsy, being active was and remains therapy for Reid. At just nine years old, she stunned able-bodied competitors to win national junior championships in short-track speed skating-wearing moulded skates to help her stay upright.

Her love of cycling had to take a backseat when she first committed to the Paralympic dream- not due to lack of talent, but because she was too young to qualify. But four years later, back on the bike, she competed in three events at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, taking silver in the 500m Time Trial C1-3.

That result only lit a bigger fire, and by the time Tokyo came around, Amanda Reid was the best in the world, smashing the 500m Time Trial C1-3 with a world-record time of 35.581 to claim gold.

With the target now on her back, she set her sights even higher, and in a stunning pivot, turned to snow. Self-funding her journey, she went on to win gold in the Snowboard Cross SB-LL1 and bronze in the Dual Banked SB-LL1 at the 2023 World Championships in La Molina, Spain.

Now, she’s not only back on the bike- defending her Paralympic gold in Paris-but also hoping to make history once again by becoming the first Indigenous woman to compete at a Winter Paralympics, eyeing the 2026 Games in Milan-Cortina.

Reid has overcome enormous odds. Growing up in Indigenous housing, she faced a tough upbringing and eventually relocated to Adelaide to escape a difficult living situation. With the support of her assistance dog, Odell, she now juggles full-time study-working toward a Bachelor of Disability and Community Inclusion, and a Diploma in Sports Management- while continuing to chase greatness in both summer and winter sports.