By Duncan Mackay

Australian officials help a new online tool will help uncover the next Matt CowdreyOctober 18 - A new online tool has been developed which allows youngsters to measure their sporting ability against some of the world's leading Paralympic athletes. 


The Rate Yourself app is accessible through Facebook and allows budding athletes to enter their results from a series of basic sporting tests and compare them to the likes of 13-time Paralympic swimming gold medallist Matt Cowdrey and cyclist Felicity Johnson, winner of the women's 1 km time trial B VI 1–3 at London 2012. 

It has been developed through a joint partnership between the South Australian Government, Office for Recreation and Sport, the South Australian Sports Institute, and the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC).

Participants with a disability are then contacted by the APC in what South Australian Manager for Participation and Pathways, Cathy Lambert claims is like a digitised version of the APC's traditional talent search days.

"Young people all over the state in urban and remote areas can now see how their natural ability stacks up against elite athletes which is a bit of fun for them, but is invaluable for us," she said.

"This tool has the potential to bring more people to Paralympic sports who may not have ever attended a physical talent search day

"The APC has been a partner in the technology since the early days of its development and we see the value in embracing technology to get ahead with our Para-sport programmes and help more people with a disability take up sport.

"It is important though that participants aren't disillusioned with their own results when comparing with the likes of Paralympic gold medallists Matt Cowdrey and Felicity Johnson.

"Instead we hope people are inspired to take up the sport they are best at or enjoy most."

Australia already runs several successful talent ID programmesAustralia already runs several successful talent ID programmes

Participants can watch Paralympians explain how to perform a series of tests that allow talent scouts and coaches to determine which sport may best suit the participant.

"Rate Yourself is also set up to accommodate many disabilities eligible for classification at the Paralympic Games, and as a state that's had great success through the APC's Paralympic," said Lambert.

"Talent Search programne with athletes such as sprinter Gabriel Cole and wheelchair racer Nathan Arkley going on to compete at the Paralympic Games,

"I'm excited by what the future holds for Rio [2016] Tokyo [2020[] and beyond thanks to this tool."

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