Introduction
Sam McIntosh (born 13 July 1990) is an Australian Paralympic athlete. He represented Australia at the 2016 Rio Paralympics in athletics.
Personal
McIntosh was born on 13 July 1990. In 2007, while riding a BMX bike on a family holiday in Coffs Harbour, he had an accident that left him a quadriplegic. Following his accident, he initially played wheelchair rugby. On 31 December 2011, on a dance floor, his neck was broken for a second time. He spent two weeks in hospital and three months doing rehabilitation before he was able to continue his athletics career. As of 2012, he lives in Drysdale, Victoria and designs T-shirts.
Athletics
McIntosh is a T52 classified athlete who competes in the 100 metre, 200 metre and 400 metre events.
McIntosh switched from wheelchair rugby to athletics following a meeting with Kaye Colman, the mother of Richard Colman. He started competing in 2009. In 2010, he was coached by Mandi Cole. That year, he was able to purchase a racing wheelchair that fit him better. At the 2011 Australian National Titles, he earned a gold medal in the 100 metre event, and a silver medal in the 200 metre event.
In 2012, he participated in a national team training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport. He was selected to represent Australia at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in athletics in the 100 m and 200 m events. He did not medal at the 2012 Games.
At the 2016 Rio Paralympics, he finished fourth in the Men's 100 m T52.