Milton had his left leg amputated when he was nine years-old after being diagnosed with bone cancer but went on to compete at five Winter Paralympic Games and one summer edition.

His first appearance at a Paralympic Games came in Calgary in 1988 at the age of 14, while Albertville 1992 saw him claim his first gold in the Alpine skiing slalom event before winning giant slalom gold at Lillehammer 1994.

At the Salt Lake City Games in 2002, he claimed an impressive four gold medals in downhill, super-G, giant slalom and slalom.

Milton also has three Paralympic silver medals, including downhill silver at Turin 2006, as well as two bronze medals.

In World Championship competition he has won 11 medals, six of them gold.

In 2006 he set a speed skiing record of 213.65 kilometres per hour - faster than any able bodied skier had achieved in Australia.

Milton was diagnosed with cancer again in 2007, this time in his throat but once again he beat the disease following intensive surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Less than a year later, he was selected on the Australian cycling team for Beijing 2008 after claiming gold in the individual pursuit and breaking a national record at his first Australian Track Cycling Championships in February 2007.

"It makes me feel very proud to be inducted and to be joining such elite company," said the 41-year-old Canberra native on his nomination.

"The real challenging part about living with a disability is the low expectations of people around you and the people you meet in our culture.

"The hardest part of life with a disability, and particularly when it comes to overcoming some of those obstacles to achieve some of those things, is being able to break through the barriers that our culture places on us."

Milton has overcome cancer twice to compete at six Paralympic Games ©AFP/Getty Images



Now retired form elite competition, Milton runs his own business and still takes part in some cycling and triathlon events for charity.

He will become only the third Paralympic athlete to be inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame following wheelchair athlete and nine-time Paralympic champion Louise Sauvage in 1997 and Sydney 2000 wheelchair tennis gold medal winner David Hall in 2010.

"Michael Milton not only defies limits, he destroys them," said Robert de Castella, chairman of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Selection Committee.

"All champions rise to a challenge, but Michael takes this to a new level, and through his incredible achievements he inspires us all to never give up, no matter how tough things look."

Former skiing World Championship bronze medallist Malcolm Milne will present Milton with his honour at the ceremony in Melbourne on Thursday (October 9).

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