Withcott athlete Claire Keefer will represent Australia at the Rio Paralympic Games.

WITHCOTT athlete Claire Keefer has received a boost ahead of making her Paralympic Games debut in Rio de Janeiro next month.

Keefer, who trains with the Ipswich and District Athletic Club, received an award from the Sporting Dreams Foundation for Queensland athletes with a disability at the group’s gala event at the Sunshine Coast at the weekend.

Keefer was unable to receive the award in person as she is in the United States training ahead of competing in the Rio Paralympics in the shot put and discus for F41 classification short stature athletes.

The award was presented by three-time Paralympian Marayke Jonkers.

The Rio Paralympics will start on September 8.