Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Youtube
TikTok
Biography
Impairment information
Type of Impairment
Cerebral Palsy
Origin of Impairment
Congenital
Classification
S10, SB9, SM10
Further personal information
Family
Partner Willow
Residence
Brisbane, QLD, AUS
Occupation
Student
Languages
English
Higher education
Communications, Public Relations - Griffith University: Nathan, QLD, AUS
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
He took up swimming at age seven and began competing in Para swimming in 2009.
Why this sport?
His interest in Paralympic sport was sparked by seeing Australian Para athlete Peter Leek win gold in the 200m medley at the 2008 Paralympic Games. "I have always been bad at sports but I always loved swimming. I had to swim with the beginners for a very long time because the cerebral palsy affected my stroke and I got really sad having to swim with the six-year-olds when I was 10. When I saw the Paralympic Games I realised that I could be a great swimmer, just different. I want other kids with disabilities to know they can be great swimmers too."
Club / Team
Yeronga Park Swim Club: Brisbane, QLD, AUS
Name of coach
Robert van der Zant [club], AUS
International debut
Year
2011
Competing for
Australia
General interest
Nicknames
Magnet ["I earned the nickname when I played water polo because I think on about three or four different occasions I unintentionally stopped a ball from entering the goal with my head."] (smh.com.au, 03 Apr 2014)
Hobbies
Listening to music, playing video games and e-sports, watching films. (Facebook page, 04 Oct 2017; swimming.org.au, 14 Apr 2019)
Memorable sporting achievement
Recording a time of 49 seconds in the 100m freestyle at the national short course championships in 2017. (swimming.org.au, 14 Apr 2019)
Hero / Idol
Australian Para sprinter Geoff Trappett. (swimming.org.au, 28 May 2014)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"Trust the process." (Instagram profile, 22 Nov 2020)
Awards and honours
In 2017 he was named Paralympic Swimmer of the Year by Swimming Australia at the organisation's annual gala awards night. (swimswam.com, 06 Nov 2017)
He was named 2014 Junior Male Athlete of the Year and Senior Male Athlete of the Year by the Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association in Queensland, Australia. (sportingwheelies.org.au, 21 Nov 2014)
He was named 2012/13 Best Para Swimmer by the Brisbane Swimming Association in Queensland, Australia. (Facebook page, 13 Apr 2017)
He received the 2012 YoungStar Award for Sport from North West News in Queensland, Australia. (couriermail.com.au, 16 Jun 2012)
He was named 2014 Junior Male Athlete of the Year and Senior Male Athlete of the Year by the Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association in Queensland, Australia. (sportingwheelies.org.au, 21 Nov 2014)
He was named 2012/13 Best Para Swimmer by the Brisbane Swimming Association in Queensland, Australia. (Facebook page, 13 Apr 2017)
He received the 2012 YoungStar Award for Sport from North West News in Queensland, Australia. (couriermail.com.au, 16 Jun 2012)
Other sports
He has competed at the Australian able-bodied national swimming championships and was part of the 4x200m freestyle relay team that won silver at the 2017 edition in Brisbane, QLD. (SportsDeskOnline, 24 Apr 2020)
Ambitions
To compete at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (Instagram profile, 22 Nov 2020)
Impairment
He has cerebral palsy and chronic lung disease after being born 15 weeks premature. His cerebral palsy diplegia has resulted in stiffness in his lower limbs and right arm. (paralympic.org.au, 01 Sep 2016; griffith.edu.au, 09 Mar 2016)
Other information
DOCUMENTARY STAR
In 2020 he appeared in a documentary named 'No Distinguishing Features', a film that followed six people with impairments. (No Distinguishing Features Facebook page, 28 Aug 2020)
OTHER ACTIVITIES
He has served as a youth ambassador for the Cerebral Palsy League in Australia. (melbournesportscentres.com.au, 13 Feb 2020; Twitter profile, 13 Apr 2017)
In 2020 he appeared in a documentary named 'No Distinguishing Features', a film that followed six people with impairments. (No Distinguishing Features Facebook page, 28 Aug 2020)
OTHER ACTIVITIES
He has served as a youth ambassador for the Cerebral Palsy League in Australia. (melbournesportscentres.com.au, 13 Feb 2020; Twitter profile, 13 Apr 2017)
Results
| Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 100 m Freestyle S9 | Final 1 | 2013-08-12 | 3 | |
| Men's 100 m Freestyle S9 | Heat 2 | 2013-08-12 | 2 | |
| Men's 50 m Freestyle S9 | Heat 1 | 2013-08-13 | 9 | |
| Men's 4x100 m Freestyle 34pts | Final 1 | 2013-08-15 | 1 | |
| Men's 400 m Freestyle S9 | Heat 1 | 2013-08-16 | 2 | |
| Men's 400 m Freestyle S9 | Final 1 | 2013-08-16 | 5 | |
| Men's 100 m Backstroke S9 | Heat 1 | 2013-08-18 | 12 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 50 m Freestyle S10 | Final Round | 2016-09-09 | 6 | |
| Men's 50 m Freestyle S10 | Heat 2 | 2016-09-09 | 2 | |
| Men's 100 m Freestyle S10 | Final Round | 2016-09-13 | 5 | |
| Men's 100 m Freestyle S10 | Heat 1 | 2016-09-13 | 2 | |
| Men's 4x100 m Freestyle 34pts | Final Round | 2016-09-14 | 5 | |
| Men's 400 m Freestyle S10 | Final Round | 2016-09-15 | 6 | |
| Men's 400 m Freestyle S10 | Heat 2 | 2016-09-15 | 4 |