Impact Story

As Lindsey Hendy prepares to represent Australia at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, his story is a reminder of where talent, passion and dedication can lead when they’re nurtured from an early age. 

Lindsey has been part of the Sport Inclusion Australia family since he was 10 years old, when he first received his eligibility through our Queensland member, Life Stream Australia.  

Like many athletes with an intellectual impairment, eligibility was one of the early steps that opened the door to state, national and international competition, supporting a pathway that has helped him pursue his sporting dreams.  

It was in 2003, when a five-year-old Lindsey lined up at The Challenge Games in Townsville—an event for children with a disability—and discovered a love for running that would shape the rest of his life. 

What began on a local athletics track would become a journey from grassroots sport to the international stage.  

Lindsey joined North Star Athletics Club, where he continued to develop his skills and confidence as an athlete. At just 16 years old, he earned his first spot on an Australian representative team, marking the beginning of an international career. 

Since then, Lindsey has competed at the highest levels of international sport, achieving success across both track and field. Beyond his performances, he has become known for his leadership, sportsmanship and the encouragement he gives those around him. Whether competing or cheering on his teammates from the sidelines, Lindsey leads by example—a quality that saw him captain the Australian men’s team at the 2025 Virtus World Athletics Championships, where he also claimed gold in the heptathlon. 

Recently returning from the Coast 2 Coast meet in July 2026, Lindsey showed he is in outstanding form ahead of Glasgow, recording a 5.70m long jump and an impressive 11.59 seconds in the 100m sprint. 

Now, he will proudly represent the Australian Para Athletics Team at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games in the long jump. 

Lindsey is an athlete with an intellectual impairment who competes in the II-1 and F20/T20 athletics events. His success has been built over many years of training and determination with the support of the people who have believed in him throughout his journey. 

One of those people is coach Matt Rawlings, who has worked alongside Lindsey since he first represented Australia at 16. Their long-standing partnership is a reminder that behind every successful athlete is a network of people who generously invest their time, knowledge and support to help others reach their potential. 

Matt has supported Lindsey throughout his Commonwealth Games preparation, attending both the Australian preparation camp and the Coast 2 Coast competition. Although much of their coaching relationship has been managed remotely over the past two years, Matt has continued to provide guidance, consistency and encouragement as Lindsey prepares to once again wear the green and gold. 

As the volunteer Australian Head Coach for the 2025 Virtus World Athletics Championships, Matt has played an important role in supporting athletes with an intellectual impairment to perform at their best. He will continue that commitment as part of the Australian team for the upcoming Virtus Asia Oceania Games in Thailand and the 2027 Virtus Global Games in Cairo, demonstrating the lasting impact dedicated coaches have on creating inclusive sporting pathways. 

 

Caption: Lindsey Hendy and Matt Rawlings at the Commonwealth Games Camp, Gold Coast. 

Lindsey’s story is about far more than one athlete. It demonstrates why inclusive sporting pathways matter. From a child discovering athletics at a local participation event to representing Australia on one of the world’s biggest sporting stages, every step of the journey has been made possible through not only Lindsey’s hard work and commitment to his sport, but through opportunity, collaboration and the belief that everyone deserves the chance to participate and excel in sport. 

At Sport Inclusion Australia, we’re proud to have supported Lindsey’s journey for more than a decade and alongside his family, coaches and supporters, we’ll be cheering him and his teammates on at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.