Create an experience with Jonathan Goerlach

Visually and hearing impaired Paralympian Jonathan Goerlach, suffers from Usher Syndrome Type II, meaning he has moderate hearing loss, no peripheral vision, is night-blind and has only tunnel vision. But since discovering a passion for Paratriathlon he’s also discovered a passion for winning. Winning a Bronze medal in Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and competing in Tokyo at the 2020 Paralympic Games, he’s certainly achieved more than he could have imagined.

But It’s not often you come across a combination of raw talent, steadfast focus and sheer determination, but in Jonathan Goerlach, you’ll find this and more. As a seasoned professional in the sport of Paratriathlon, it’s hard to decide what’s more motivating – his achievements with his life outside of sport or the fact he’s made such incredible impact as a paratriathlete and as a person who works full-time to support his wife and two kids. It’s probably a bit of both. 

Raised in Nowra on the land of the Wodi Wodi people, Jonathan Goerlach was diagnosed with hearing loss when he was three and has been wearing hearing aids since. Fiercely passionate about sport, even as a youth, for Jonathan it was a case of which sport he would focus on as he excelled at whatever he tried. However after years of bumping into things and brush-offs from optometrists, at 15, Jonathan was diagnosed with Usher Syndrome Type II – a hearing and degenerative visual impairment. Having lived for sports, the first thing he asked was, “Will I still be able to play sport?” Jonathan remembers the look on his Mum’s face. The car ride home was the only time he cried about it. Jonathan gave up sports completely as his eyesight started to deteriorate. If he couldn’t play sports well, he wouldn’t do it at all. Battling the loss of his sight, depression and the reality of life with his disability, Jonathan spiraled downwards, until, knowing he needed to take control of his life with a disability, he headed overseas for a fresh start. While working in Amsterdam as a Sports Massage Therapist, he worked with many clients who were runners. Hearing their stories inspired Jonathan to pull on his running shoes again and to start to train seriously with a running squad. Life changed for Jonathan with the announcement that Paratriathlon had been accepted into the 2016 Rio Paralympics. Having always been interested in Triathlon, he realised this was his sport. And it’s now become his life. Returning to Australia in 2012, Jonathan was noticed by Paralympics Australia and Triathlon Australia. Understandably so, as currently Jonathan is one of the fastest runners in the world in his class. Incredibly after only a short time involved in Paratriathlon, and having competed only one race, Jonathan was selected for the World Champs in 2012, which he competed in and came 5th, only 2 minutes behind the winner. His journey had started.

Jonathan competed in the - PTVI Visually-Impaired category in Paratriathlon. He trained with High Performance Coach Peter Clifford and his race guide is professional triathlete David Mainwaring. Jonathan graduated from University of Canberra in 2018 with a Bachelor degree in Sports Management.“When I was first diagnosed, my family were thinking “what now?” But for many parents of disabled children, I am the “what now?” I’m what their disabled child can be too.” Jonathan is a regular speaker at events and is proud that he can make a difference for others, particularly disabled youth. Jonathan’s message is not so much about his disability, but rather his ability that he’s found as a result of his disability. He can and he is. And that’s something that everyone needs to hear and see, not just those with a disability. “Whether you have an ability, a disability, or both, the power of sport can change lives. It’s changed mine.” ///Quick Facts/// • Commenced Paratriathlon April 2012 • Currently ranked #4 in the world for Paratriathlon • World Paraduathlon Champion 2015 • Australian National Paratriathlon Champion 2013-2021 • Oceanic Paratriathlon Champion 2014-2021 • Triathlon Australia Male Paratriathlete Performance of the Year 2020 • University of Canberra 2014 Elite Athlete of The Year • Triathlon Australia High Performance member • 2018 Graduate University of Canberra Bachelor of Sport Management ///Stats/// • Born: 07/11/1982, Nowra/NSW • Paralympics Classification: B2 ///Upcoming Races/// ///Media/// SMH and The Age Good Weekend – The Two of Us http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyl... The Canberra Times http://www.canberratimes.com.a... South Coast Register http://www.southcoastregister.... /