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Biography
Impairment information
Type of Impairment
Cerebral Palsy
Origin of Impairment
Congenital
Classification
S8, SB8, SM8
Further personal information
Residence
Calgary, AB, CAN
Occupation
Athlete
Languages
English
Higher education
Early Childhood Studies - Mount Royal University: Calgary, AB, CAN
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
She first tried swimming at age six months, and began competing at age 11.
Why this sport?
She began swimming as an alternative to physiotherapy to help strengthen her left side. A coach saw she had potential and encouraged her to attend a swim meet. "They [doctors] were telling me that what I was doing at one of my swimming practises was like doing the same thing for my physio exercises, and I absolutely hated physio so that was an incentive to stay in the sport."
Name of coach
Mike Thompson [personal]
General interest
Nicknames
Birdie (Twitter profile, 16 Mar 2019)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"Don't let anything stop you. If you have a dream go after it. Your abilities are much higher than your limitations. If you believe in yourself you can get there." (Tomorrow YouTube channel, 31 Jul 2014)
Awards and honours
She was named Female Para Swimmer of the Year by Swim Alberta in Canada in 2012/13, 2013/14 and 2014/15. (swimalberta.ca, Sep 2015)
Ambitions
To compete at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (swimming.ca, 29 Mar 2018)
Impairment
She was born with cerebral palsy, affecting the left side of her body. (paralympic.ca, Sep 2016)
Other information
GIVING BACK
She has volunteered at Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary, AB, Canada, where she was treated in her youth, and earned a degree in child studies at Mount Royal University in Calgary. "I was a patient there for most of my life. The people that were part of the child life programme made a huge impact on my life. My passion is to work with kids. I love kids. Just being able to be part of the children's hospital as a patient and a volunteer has impacted my life for the better." (swimming.ca, 29 Mar 2018; Instagram profile, 07 Jun 2019)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
She is passionate about helping people with impairments. In addition to volunteering at Alberta Children's Hospital, she has also helped coach young swimmers with impairments. "I find it very important for me to raise people's awareness about the Paralympic movement whenever I can. Even if my story touches one young person and gets them involved in sports, that is very meaningful to me. It is a rewarding experience for me, knowing I am helping others out through my swimming career." (csicalgary.ca, 04 Apr 2018; globalnews.ca, 12 Apr 2017)
She has volunteered at Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary, AB, Canada, where she was treated in her youth, and earned a degree in child studies at Mount Royal University in Calgary. "I was a patient there for most of my life. The people that were part of the child life programme made a huge impact on my life. My passion is to work with kids. I love kids. Just being able to be part of the children's hospital as a patient and a volunteer has impacted my life for the better." (swimming.ca, 29 Mar 2018; Instagram profile, 07 Jun 2019)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
She is passionate about helping people with impairments. In addition to volunteering at Alberta Children's Hospital, she has also helped coach young swimmers with impairments. "I find it very important for me to raise people's awareness about the Paralympic movement whenever I can. Even if my story touches one young person and gets them involved in sports, that is very meaningful to me. It is a rewarding experience for me, knowing I am helping others out through my swimming career." (csicalgary.ca, 04 Apr 2018; globalnews.ca, 12 Apr 2017)
Results
| Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m Butterfly S8 | Heat 1 | 2012-08-30 | 4 | |
| Women's 400 m Freestyle S8 | Heat 2 | 2012-08-31 | 2 | |
| Women's 400 m Freestyle S8 | Final Round | 2012-08-31 | 4 | |
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S8 | Final Round | 2012-09-02 | 8 | |
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S8 | Heat 3 | 2012-09-02 | 4 | |
| Women's 4x100 m Freestyle 34pts | Final Round | 2012-09-03 | 7 | |
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S8 | Heat 1 | 2012-09-06 | 2 | |
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S8 | Final Round | 2012-09-06 | 6 | |
| Women's 4x100 m Medley 34pts | Final Round | 2012-09-07 | 7 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 400 m Freestyle S8 | Final 1 | 2013-08-14 | 5 | |
| Women's 4x100 m Freestyle 34pts | Final 1 | 2013-08-15 | 2 | |
| Women's 100 m Butterfly S8 | Final 1 | 2013-08-16 | 6 | |
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S8 | Final 1 | 2013-08-17 | 4 | |
| Women's 4x100 m Medley 34pts | Final 1 | 2013-08-18 | 4 | |
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S8 | Final 1 | 2013-08-18 | 2 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m Butterfly S8 | Final 1 | 2015-07-13 | 5 | |
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S8 | Heat 1 | 2015-07-16 | 4 | |
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S8 | Final 1 | 2015-07-16 | 4 | |
| Women's 4x100 m Freestyle 34pts | Final 1 | 2015-07-16 | 4 | |
| Women's 400 m Freestyle S8 | Final 1 | 2015-07-17 | 7 | |
| Women's 400 m Freestyle S8 | Heat 1 | 2015-07-17 | 7 | |
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S8 | Heat 1 | 2015-07-19 | 4 | |
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S8 | Final 1 | 2015-07-19 | 5 | |
| Women's 4x100 m Medley 34pts | Final 1 | 2015-07-19 | 8 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 400 m Freestyle S8 | Heat 2 | 2016-09-08 | 6 | |
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S8 | Heat 2 | 2016-09-11 | 4 | |
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S8 | Final Round | 2016-09-11 | 5 | |
| Women's 4x100 m Freestyle 34pts | Final Round | 2016-09-15 | 5 | |
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S8 | Final Round | 2016-09-16 | 7 | |
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S8 | Heat 2 | 2016-09-16 | 3 | |
| Women's 4x100 m Medley 34pts | Final Round | 2016-09-16 | 5 | |
| Women's 200 m Individual Medley SM8 | Heat 1 | 2016-09-17 | 5 |