Ethan Parry; an athlete soaring to new heights on the world stage

WHEN Hervey Bay athlete Ethan Parry steps onto the track, there is a spark that is impossible to miss. The smile, the focus, the pure joy of competition, it’s all there.

This year, that energy took him to one of the biggest stages in sport, the 2025 Virtus World Athletics Championships in Brisbane, where he proudly represented Australia among more than 300 athletes from over 30 countries.

The Virtus Championships, a global event for athletes with intellectual impairments, are all about celebrating ability, dedication, and sporting excellence.

Ethan embodied every part of that spirit.

Competing in the 100 metres, long jump, and shot put as part of the triathlon-style “Tri” event, along with individual events, he made his mark, finishing eighth in the world in the 100 metres and claiming silver in the long jump, as well as an Australian record in the 4x100 metre relay.

“It was a very fast race,” said Ethan’s mum, Gail.

“The Brazilian athlete smashed the world record again, but Ethan gave it everything. To be eighth in the world is incredible.”

His silver medal in the long jump came down to a nail-biting finish, just centimetres separating him from the gold.

“He thought he had done enough to win and was a little cranky at first,” Gail laughed.

“But that’s the beauty of competition, it’s all about being your best on the day,
and he did just that.”

Behind every great athlete is a great team, and Ethan’s support network is second to none.

His coach, Greg Coombs, and dedicated trainer Ali Bennett from Allied Gym, have been instrumental in shaping his routine.

“Ethan trains every day,” Gail explained.

“Tuesdays and Thursdays are in the gym with Ali, who is just amazing. What she doesn’t know, she finds out. Then on other days, he is out training with his carer or working through the program. It is a full schedule, but Ethan loves it.”

And that love shows.

Whether sprinting down the track or soaring through the air in the long jump pit, Ethan competes with unshakable joy.

“He loves being fit and strong,” said Gail.

“The friendships, the energy, the competition, it gives him so much confidence. Watching him out there, it’s worth every minute.”

For Gail, one of the most moving parts of the Brisbane Championships was the inclusiveness.

“At the event, everyone was just an athlete. It was seamless, no labels, no limits. The camaraderie was amazing. In that space there he is simply Ethan, one of the team.”

That sense of belonging fuels his motivation for what lays ahead. “There are a few competitions next year,” Gail said.

“We can’t attend them all, it’s self-funded, but we’re focusing on one major event in Thailand next November, the Virtus Asia–Oceania Championships.

“Ethan also has his eye on the 2027 Virtus Global Games in Europe.”

Ethan’s journey began in 2019, when he first wore the green and gold at the Virtus Global Games as a 16-year-old St James Lutheran College student.

“The whole school stopped to watch his race,” Gail recalled.

“He won silver back then, and it just took off from there.” Since then, Ethan has represented Australia four times, plus two regional team appearances, a remarkable achievement for any athlete.

Among the highlights of this year’s World Championships was a moment captured on camera, Ethan, arms raised, grinning ear to ear, celebrating with pure, unfiltered happiness.

“That clip says it all,” said Gail. “It shows what sport means to him. It’s joy, belonging, and pride all rolled into one.”

Now back in Hervey Bay, Ethan is already back into his training routine, preparing for whatever challenges come next.

His determination is unwavering, his enthusiasm contagious.

When asked what he loves most about competing, Ethan doesn’t hesitate: “Seeing my mates. Racing the best in the world. I love it.”

It’s that simple, and that powerful.