Beginnings

Paul was born in Randwick in 1951. His family moved to Yagoona when he was aged three and he lived there for an extended period of time before relocating to Chipping Norton. He attended local schools, including St Felix, Bankstown De La Salle, and Benilde College. Paul began his athletic journey in the 1960s as a junior runner for the Canterbury-Bankstown Athletics Club, now known as Bankstown Sports Athletics Club. He also played soccer for 13 years before resuming running with Bankstown Sports Athletics in the early 1980s.

Achievements

Paul represented Australia in four Paralympic Games. In 1984, he competed in the Paralympic Games in New York, participating in the 1500m (seventh place), 5000m (fourth place), and table tennis. He was the team captain and flag bearer at the 1988 Seoul Paralympics, where he ran the 10,000m. At the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics, he qualified for the 10,000m and finished seventh. Although he achieved a qualifying marathon time in 1996, he was not selected for the Atlanta team but holds the Australian record for his category. In 2000, he qualified for the Sydney Paralympics as a member of the sitting volleyball team. Beyond the Paralympics, Paul has represented Australia in various disabled volleyball, sitting volleyball and table tennis competitions.

Post Representation

After his competitive running career ended due to knee problems, Paul transitioned to coaching. He took on a role as a middle-distance running coach with Bankstown Sports Athletics, where he has coached a diverse group of athletes for the past 12 years. He conducts training sessions at the Crest Athletics Track regardless of rain, hail or shine (except for lightning). In addition to coaching, Paul has rekindled his passion for table tennis and participates in veterans' competitions. Throughout his working career, Paul taught at Bankstown TAFE and served as the Head Teacher of Accounting.