Paralympics Australia is mourning the recent deaths of two of its pioneer athletes, Kevin Coombs and Tracey Freeman ©Paralympics Australia

Kevin Coombs, the first indigenous athlete to represent Australia at a Paralympic or Olympic Games, has died aged 82.

It is the second huge loss to the Paralympic movement following the death earlier this week at the age of 75 of Tracey Freeman, the first Australian female to win Paralympic gold.

Coombs was a pioneering athlete who last year became the first Paralympian to receive the PLY post-nominals from the International Paralympic Committee.

He represented Australia at five Paralympic Games, beginning as one of 12 Australian athletes selected for the first edition in Rome 1960.

He went on to compete at Tel Aviv 1968, Heidelberg 1972, Arnhem 1980 and Stoke Mandeville 1984, serving as captain of the men’s wheelchair basketball teams in 1972 and 1984 and captain of the entire Australian Paralympic Team in 1980.

Coombs was invited to carry the Paralympic torch into the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony, and an avenue in Sydney Olympic Park bears his name.

He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1983, the Australian Sports Medal in 2000 and was inducted into the Basketball Australia Hall of Fame in 2007.

In the same year he was inducted into the Australian Paralympic Hall of Fame, and Paralympics Australia also established the Uncle Kevin Coombs Medal for the Spirit of the Games.

This honours Australian Paralympians who exemplify the same spirit and determination that Coombs displayed throughout his career and is awarded at the end of every Paralympic Games year.

In her two Paralympic appearances at Heidelberg 1972 and Toronto 1976, Freeman earned six gold medals and is 12th on the all-time list of Australian winners.

In 1972, Freeman broke world records in the discus, javelin and shot as well as winning silver medals in the 60m wheelchair sprint and wheelchair slalom events.

Four years later she set world records in the 60m wheelchair sprint, javelin and shot put and won silver in the discus and wheelchair slalom events.

Freeman received an Australian Sports Medal in 2000 before her induction into the Australian Paralympic Hall of Fame in 2016.

"Our deepest condolences are with the families, friends and loved ones of Kevin and Tracey as well as everyone within the Paralympic movement who will be affected by their passing," said Paralympics Australia President Alison Creagh.

"Kevin and Tracey were inducted into the Australian Paralympic Hall of Fame at the same ceremony in 2016 and to lose two legends within days of each other makes this a very difficult time for the Australian Paralympic movement.

The Paralympic exploits of the late Kevin Coombs and Tracey Freeman laid the ground for recent Australian successes through the likes of wheelchair racer Madison de Rozario ©Getty Images
The Paralympic exploits of the late Kevin Coombs and Tracey Freeman laid the ground for recent Australian successes through the likes of wheelchair racer Madison de Rozario ©Getty Images

"Kevin was a trailblazer who embodied the true spirit of the Paralympic movement.

"His contributions, both on and off the court, have had a profound impact on Australian Para-sport and he will forever be remembered as an inspiration to Australian athletes, not just those with a disability.

"His legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.

"As the first female athlete from Australia to win a Paralympic gold medal in athletics, Tracey blazed a trail for future icons of our movement, like Louise Sauvage and Madison de Rozario, to follow.

"After her two appearances at the Paralympic Games, Tracey remains one of the most dominant athletes that Australian Paralympic sport has ever produced."

Paralympics Australia chief executive Catherine Clark added: "We have lost two incredible people and two giants of our movement."