Angus Hincksman is a middle-distance runner who was awarded a Tier 2 Scholarship within the 2023 Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program.
Born in Adelaide in 2005, he was diagnosed with a brain injury at birth, shortly afterwards the doctors and his family began preparing for a future where walking wasn’t a certainty. He has dealt with years of seizures, physiotherapy, doctors’ appointments and having to sleep in splints. Barriers for some – a challenge Angus grasps and fires his determination to keep on going and inspiring.
Angus began running in early 2015 (age 9) at Tatachilla Lutheran College where he qualified for his school Cross Country team and Oakbank in the able body category. Novita (who were supporting Angus’ disability needs) explained that he could run against other children with his type of disability to achieve a fair result. Angus was classified shortly before his Oakbank race as a T38 which is reserved for athletes with Cerebral Palsy, a condition that effects muscle control, balance and coordination.
Angus joined Mid Coast little athletics club for a season and progressed to Southern Athletics club at the age of 12. Angus’ first step towards international success was to claim all National Age records for his classification – which he has achieved most of them in both the 800m and 1500m. Following this success, Angus was proud to nominated in South Australian School Sports Junior Athlete of the Year award in 2017.
In 2018 he claimed his first age group National titles in the 800m and 1500m. From 2018, with support from his coach, Angus gained confidence on the National stage in both cross country and on the track. In 2019 Angus broke the National 5000m T38 record and was supported in doing so by his training team.
Angus subsequently broke the National U16 T38 records for both 1500m and 800m and received a Scholarship to attend Westminster School at the end of 2020. Over the years Angus has been supported by coaches Mike Butler (in SAPSASA) and Simon Moran in his progression to senior. He has also been enabled by Athletics South Australia who developed him through their Athletics Academy, Targeted Talent Program and their Emerging Athlete program and this year he has been categorised as a NASS athlete.
2022 was an exceptional year for Angus. Claiming two golds in the 800m and 1500m able body events at the U18 State Championships.
He went on to one of the biggest National events on the sporting calendar, the Australian Track and Field Championships. In the 1500m T38 he passed Tokyo Bronze medalist Deon Kenzie and Paralympian Daniel Bounty to cross the finish line to claim silver in a personal record time of 4:06.25, which was also quick enough to break the national Under 20 record.
This defeat secured him a spot at the 2022 Oceania Championships. He dabbled in the 400m to claim fourth and really shone in his dominant race, 1500m and claimed gold. This success has secured Angus a world ranking in the Men’s T38 at #6.
Angus is passionate about supporting younger para-athletes irrespective of their ability and enjoys breaking barriers and pushing his limits by way of competing in able body competitions.
“This scholarship means a lot me as it will help me achieve my goals, it will also help highlight to other younger Para-Athletes that they can be recognised as well as assisted to reach their goals, with the support of amazing mentors to guide them.” – Angus Hincksman on being selected as a 2023 Tier 2 Scholarship Holder.
Honours & Achievements
- 2017: South Australian School Sport Junior Athlete of the Year nominee
- 2017/18: SA Athletics U16 Male Athlete of the year Winner
- 2018: Australian Track and Field Championships 2 x Gold (U16 Para 1500m and
- 800m)
- 2019: Australian Track and Field Championships 2 x Gold (U16 Para 1500m & 800m)
- 2019: National Record 5000m (18:08.79)
- 2019/20: SA Athletics U16 Male Athlete of the Year and Para Athlete of the Year Nominations
- 2020/21 SA Athletics U18 Male athlete of the Year Nominee
- 2021: Australian Track and Field Championships Gold and T38 Record – 2:08.55 (U17 Para 800m) and 4th (Open Ambulant 1500m)
- 2021/22: SA Athletics U20 in Stadium Athlete of the Year Nominee
- 2022: South Australian U18 State Championships – 2 x Gold (1500m & 800m, able body event)
- 2022: Brisbane Track Classic – Silver (Open Ambulant 1500m)
- 2022: Run the Tan Para event – Bronze
- 2022: Australian Track and Field Championships – Silver (Open Ambulant 1500m)
- 2022: Australian Track and Field Championships – Bronze (Open Ambulant 800m)
- 2022: Oceania Championships – Gold (Open Ambulant 1500m)
- 2022: Oceania Championships – 4th (Open Ambulant 400m)
- 2023: Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship Holder
Bio picture credit: Jazz Deol Photography (at Run the Tan)
