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Record Participation and Rising Talent Highlight Victorian Grand Prix Success
Published Wed 26 Aug 2026
The 2026 Victorian Grand Prix delivered a landmark day for Para Powerlifting Australia, with a record 26 athletes competing at the NEC Hangar near Melbourne Airport, making it the largest Grand Prix event in series history.
The competition showcased the continued growth of the sport, with eight athletes making their Grand Prix debut, a number of Australian records broken, and numerous personal best performances achieved across all divisions.
Among the standout performances were new Australian records from rookie athletes Carly Young and Noah Austin, while Sophie Cowlishaw and Paul Raison continued their impressive rise in the sport, setting Australian records in the Elite and Legends categories respectively.
Above: Sophie Cowlishaw
Strong Competition Across Elite Divisions
In the Elite Women's Division, Rachel Coady continued her dominant season, claiming first place ahead of Sophie Cowlishaw in second and emerging talent Carly Young in third.
The Elite Lightweight Men's Division saw debutant Luke Talley make an immediate impact, securing victory in his first para powerlifting appearance. He finished ahead of Craig Austin and Leo Sideras.
Another new athlete made headlines in the Elite Heavyweight Men's Division, with Nathan Stewart taking top honours ahead of Justin Marafioti, while Paul Raison rounded out the podium in third place.
Above: (Left to Right) Rachel Coady, Sophie Cowlishaw, Carly Young, Nathan Stewart, Luke Talley & ustin Marafioti
Grand Prix Series Race Nears the Finish
With three Grand Prix events now completed, the race for the overall series titles is beginning to take shape.
In the Elite Men's standings, Craig Austin leads on 50 points, narrowly ahead of Jaimie Clarke and Rod Watson, both on 46 points. Leo Sideras and Paul Raison complete the current top five.
The Elite Women's standings are headed by Rachel Coady on 62 points, followed by Sophie Cowlishaw (56) and Carly Young (48). Patricia Wallace and Ashleigh Pugh round out the top five.
The final rankings will be determined using each athlete's best two Grand Prix results, with athletes required to compete in at least two Grand Prix events and the National Championships to be eligible for the overall series award.
Overall Grand Prix points for all divisions - 2026 Grand Prix - Points and Results (GP1) 1.xlsx
Youth Development Camp Builds the Future
The Victorian Grand Prix also formed part of Para Powerlifting Australia's ongoing pathway development efforts, with the organisation hosting a Youth Development Camp from 13-15 August.
Seven promising teenage athletes from across Australia were invited to participate in the camp, which focused on supporting emerging athletes with aspirations of progressing through the national pathway toward Brisbane 2032 and beyond.
The program combined competition experience, athlete education, physical screening, technical assessment, and parent and guardian engagement to provide a holistic introduction to high-performance Para sport.
Camp participants had the opportunity to compete at the Melbourne Grand Prix, build connections with fellow rookie athletes from around the country, and learn from experts across the high-performance system. The experience was designed to inspire, educate, and prepare athletes for the next stage of their Para Powerlifting journey.
Above: Hani Waton mentoring athletes at the Youth Development camp.
With record participation, impressive performances, and a strong focus on athlete development, the 2026 Victorian Grand Prix highlighted the growing depth and momentum of Para Powerlifting in Australia as the sport continues its build as one of the fastest growing Paralympic sports.
Access photos from the 2026 Victorian Grand Prix: Dropbox link to Vic GP photos
Photo credit: Mark Munroe.
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