Lisa-Marie Vizaniari - athletics

Born in Australia to Greek parents, Lisa returned to Greece in her teens and took up the discus. On returning to Australia at age 15, she entered the Australian Institute of Sport.

Lisa won a Commonwealth Games gold medal in the discus in Auckland in 1990. She threw a personal best (PB) to take bronze in the shot in Victoria 1994, whilst earlier on finishing fifth behind Daniela Costian in the discus. Was a late addition to the team for the '95 World Championships after throwing a massive PB of 63.90m at a NSW Throwers Club event. She began the '96 international season by winning at the Atlanta and Eugene Grand Prix meets.

In 1997, she threw a huge personal best of 65.86m at the nationals. Looked a real chance to improve on her Olympic 8th place at the World Championships however a continual knee problem as well as illness during the championships saw her do a great job to make the final. Lisa-Marie gounced back for more domestic competition in '98 and finished the season on a high with a 64.11m effort in the Optus Grand Prix Final in Brisbane. .She won the silver medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games with a discus throw of 62.14m. At the 1999 World Championships she threw 61.49m.

Lisa-Marie told her parents she was gay at age 18, and didn't find it hard to come out publicly. She says "I want people to know it's ok to be gay". 

In 2000, Lisa-Marie took up training as a professional boxer.