Todd Hodgetts: Mormon Athlete
Todd Hodgetts is a Paralympian who won a bronze medal in the shot put, F20 class, at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He won a gold medal in the event at the 2012 Paralympics in London, England and set a record with 16.29 meters. After the 2012 Paralympics he had two surgeries and has battled shoulder injuries.
Hodgetts was born on March 23, 1988, in Launceston, Tasmania. He was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome at the age of eight. After his brother brought home a shot put from high school and talked him into trying it as a joke, Hodgetts began competing. When Hodgetts competed in the 2004 Tasmanian Athletics Championships in the under-18 shot put event, he achieved a state record with one of his throws. He then made the national team in 2005. In 2008, he was the Australian shot put champion. He took gold at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Doha.
In 2014 he was awarded an Order of Australia Medal “for service to sport as a Gold Medalist at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.”[1]
Hodgetts now lives in Melbourne, Australia. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
