Francis Kompaon

Francis Kompaon, born January 16, 1986 in Rabaul [ [http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRMP/ENG/BIO/Athlete/2/1208712.shtml Francis Kompaon's biography] on the official website of the 2008 Paralympics] , is a Papua New Guinean athlete.

He represented Papua New Guinea at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, competing in athletics in the one hundred metre sprint, T42 category. With a time of 11.10 seconds, he finished second in the final, five hundredths of a second behind Australia's Heath Francis. It was Papua New Guinea's first ever Olympic or Paralympic medal [ [http://www.athletics-oceania.com/index.cgi?det=1&intArticleID=1921&sID=2 "Silver for Francis Kompaon"] , Oceania Athletics Association, September 15, 2008] [ [http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20080916/view01.htm "Kompaon a champ on our national day"] , "Post Courier", September 16, 2008] [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/performer-of-the-week/heath-francis-triple-paralympic-gold-medallist/2008/09/15/1221330753449.html "Heath Francis: Triple Paralympic gold medallist"] , "The Age", September 16, 2008] , and was also the first ever Olympic or Paralympic medal won by a Pacific Islander. [ [http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200809/s2367845.htm "Francis' medal for PNG the start of 'something special'"] , ABC Radio Australia, September 18, 2008] He also competed in the 200 metre sprint, finishing ninth overall in the heats, with a time of 23.30 seconds. [ [http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20080911/sport06.htm "Kompaon eyes 100m"] , "Post Courier", September 11, 2008] Kompaon was his country's flagbearer at the Games' opening ceremony [ [http://www.paralympic.org/release/Main_Sections_Menu/News/Press_Releases/Flagbearers_List_Opening_Ceremony_Final_5_Sept1.pdf Official list of flagbearers] on the website of the International Paralympic Committee] , and was one of fifteen competitors (out of over 4000) selected to carry the torch during the Paralympic torch relay in Beijing. [ [http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20080903/sport02.htm "Sponsors bid PNG farewell"] , "Post Courier", September 3, 2008]

He had previously won several gold medals at regional competitions in Oceania, and had finished fourth in the 200m sprint for élite athletes with disabilities at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. [ [http://www.athletics-oceania.com/index.cgi?det=1&intArticleID=1901&sID=2 "Preview of Island Athletes at the Paralympic Games"] , Oceania Athletics Association, September 1, 2008]

Papua New Guinea's sports minister Dame Carol Kidu said that Kompaon's Paralympic medal had "raised the issue of disability in Papua New Guinea to a level that it has never been". [ [http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200809/s2368156.htm?tab=latest "PNG senators 'thrilled' by Kompaon Paralympics silver"] , ABC Radio Australia, September 18, 2008] In direct response to Kompaon's medal, Prime Minister Michael Somare promised that the government would increase funding for disability sports. [ [http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200809/s2369152.htm?tab=sport "Sir Michael boosts disabled sport, Kompoan gets performance bonus"] , ABC Radio Australia, September 19, 2008]

External links

* [http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/torchrelay/photos/modern/beijing/n214588951.shtml "Photo: Torchbearer Francis Kompaon displays the torch"] , Xinhua, September 6, 2008
* [http://de.eurosport.yahoo.com/15092008/71/bild/australia-s-heath-francis-facing-celebrates-with-papua-new-guinea.html "Australia's Heath Francis, facing, celebrates with Papua New Guinea's Francis Kompaon (1853) after the Men's 100m T46 final at the Beijing 2008 Paraly"] [sic] , Associated Press photo, September 15, 2008

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