Australia’s two Paralympic gold medal winners at the track in Beijing, Christine Wolf and Heath Francis, have more in common than a love of sport.

Both are coached by the Australian Institute of Sport’s (AIS) Iryna Dvoskina, who is the hidden force behind Australia’s success at the track, and whom Wolf describes as the best coach in the world.

Dvoskina and the AIS program were among the main reasons behind Wolf’s decision to move to Australia from her native Germany three years ago.

Another was Francis. Sparks flew when Wolf and Francis met in Athens in 2004, and they continued their relationship for two years before breaking up in 2006.

Francis is under orders to rest after his gold medal in the amputee class 200m, as part of getting ready for the upcoming 100m and 400m.

Wolf, who lost her leg after cancer as a child, is preparing for the 100m on Saturday.

Dvoskina was the head coach of the Ukraine Paralympic team for seven years until the Australian Institute of Sport approached her to fill a vacancy.

“We had met her around the traps and thought she would be someone who would be interested in coming to the AIS,” said Australian head coach, Scott Goodman.

Dvoskina also coaches sprinters Brad Scott and Evan O’Hanlon and high jumper Aaron Chatman. All her athletes have Institute scholarships, so they can train full-time.

“She is very regimented in her approach,” Goodman said.

“The athletes that work with her have to be able to fit into the regimen she puts in place.”

“She is so professional; she has given me the tools to become an athlete – the tools of experience and knowledge,” Wolf said.

The Australian Government, through the Australian Sports Commission (ASC), is a long-time supporter of our Paralympians.

During the current Paralympic cycle, the ASC has worked strategically with the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) to plan for a successful Beijing Paralympic campaign.

This partnership has included over $26 million in ASC funding dedicated assisting Australia’s Paralympic athletes in their sporting endeavours.

The ASC also provided in excess of $1 million through the Australian Government Sport Training scheme to targeted athletes from the sports of rowing, powerlifting, equestrian, men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball, cycling, athletics, shooting, table tennis, wheelchair rugby, tennis and swimming, to assist in their preparation for Beijing.
 
In early 2008, the Australian Government confirmed its continued support of the APC, with an additional $22.8 million in funding over a five year period beginning in 2007/08.

This funding supplements existing Government assistance provided through the Australian Sports Commission to underpin the APC’s national campaign to contest the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing and lays the groundwork for the 2010 Winter Games and the 2012 Summer Games.

It will also provide an enhanced capacity to support Australian Paralympic athletes contesting other international events and assist in the televising of the Paralympics.