By Brendan Rees
He may only be 15-years-old but para-triathlete Jack Howell already has a long list of well-deserved accolades.
Born with Symbrachydactyly, a congenital absence of the left hand, the Berwick boy has competed in high level sports since age 10.
And now he is the youngest para-triathlete to ever be categorised as an elite athlete by the Australian Institute of Sport and Triathlon Australia.
On Wednesday 25 September, Jack was announced as the Variety Young Sports Achiever Award during the Variety Toyota AFL Grand Final lunch at the Palladium at Crown.
The award goes to a young person who has overcome adversity to achieve an outstanding level of success in sport.
The lunch featured AFL legends and footy stars from various teams to help raise money for Variety – the Children’s Charity which helps kids in need.
The event also paid tribute to the late, great Danny Frawley, who was due to appear on the day.
In his speech, Jack said triathlon was a sport where he was able to challenge himself and grow.
“I have had a great coach, Kyle Burns, who has helped me adapt and believed in me,” he said.
“He wasn’t scared to ask me questions and learn about disability and para-triathlon.“My training squad are some of Victoria’s top youth athletes. They have become my mates and see me as Jack, not just the kid with one hand.
It’s their support and the support of Variety that help me to be my best and reach for my goals.”
Having received the award, Jack now joins the ranks of nine-time grand slam winner Dylan Alcott OAM and paralympians; Heath Davidson, Samuel Rizzo and Nicholas Hum.
Proud mum Therese said Jack had built a “fantastic community of people around him and it’s a joy to watch him doing what he loves.”
Jack competes in triathlon against his age group able-bodied peers as there is currently no para-triathlon junior racing in Australia for under-16 years.
Among Jack’s highest achievements is placing second overall in the Victorian 2XU Triathlon Series, and placing 13th in the World Para-swimming Series/Victoria Open Swimming Championships in the multiclass open age.
Jack aspires to compete in the para-triathlon at the Paris Paralympics in 2024.
