A Prime Minister and a Paralympian have lined up a beer and parmi at Launceston's Sporties Hotel.
Impressed by the performance and subsequent interview of Todd 'The Hulk' Hodgetts at the Paralympic Games on Tuesday, Scott Morrison contacted the Tasmanian shot putter in Tokyo to offer his congratulations.
"Thanks for what was one of the most inspiring post-event press conferences I think I've ever seen," Mr Morrison said.
"Mate, the Hulk was in full force. I thought Ariarne Titmus was a famous Tasmanian, well, here we go again."
He added: "I thought your message was brave and also full of hope at a time when the country is going through a really difficult period and that message was the shot in the arm that Australia needs."
Mr Hodgetts, 33, who had competed in the F20 shot put for athletes with an intellectual impairment, said he moved to Melbourne to chase his sporting dreams.
"I just got really lucky. I just took this opportunity and kept going forward," he said.
Noting that Mr Hodgetts was "a bit more subdued" than the previous night, Mr Morrison issued an invitation.
"If we both find ourselves back in Launceston one day I'll meet you at Sporties," he said.
"It has a very good steak, its parmi is not bad either. I was there last with Peter Gutwein and he cleaned me up on the pool table, 100 per cent, be careful if he challenges you to a game of pool, he knows what he's doing."
Rob Shaw
Heralding the impact of Tasmanian sport without saying "punching above its weight" is not as easy as it sounds.
Heralding the impact of Tasmanian sport without saying "punching above its weight" is not as easy as it sounds.
