The Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies is a Proud Partner of the Australian Olympic Team and a Worldwide Partner of the International Olympic Committee and the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. We believe playing sport and being active together can help families form closer bonds.

The first grant of $5,000 from the Johnson & Johnson Athlete Family Support Program was awarded to Tony Outteridge, the father of Australian Olympic Sailing Team representative, Nathan Outteridge. Tony will use the grant to travel to Beijing to support Nathan in his first Olympic Games.

Nathan nominated his father for the Johnson & Johnson Athlete Family Support Program, paying homage to the sacrifices made by his dad, and indeed the entire family, to help him become an Olympian.

In addition to financial support and endless hours spent fixing equipment and preparing for competitions, Tony was instrumental in Nathan’s rehabilitation after a near-fatal car accident in 2005 at age 17. Sustaining severe spinal injuries and facing the prospect of never walking again, Nathan not only got back on his feet but has gone on to become one of Australia’s elite sportspeople.

“Without the support of my dad, I would never have got back to the top in the sport I love,” said Nathan. “He is an incredible source of inspiration and I am thrilled that he can now be with me in the biggest competition of my life.”

“Dad made incredible sacrifices, like increasing the mortgage, to afford the travel costs, equipment and boats I needed for training and competing. He also spent countless hours in the shed fixing and re-rigging the boats while teaching me many of the practical skills that now help me compete,” said Nathan.