NEWS IN BRIEF
Rachel reveals her
Rio journey
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Rachael Watson recently represented Australia in swimming at the 2016
Rio Paralympics. She shares her experiences with us.
Rachael Watson is finishing a year she will
never forget. She competed in the Rio
Paralympic Games for swimming, smashed
two personal best times, broke a Paralympic
record and won a gold medal.
She shared some of her journey to get there.
“I am a triplet and was born prematurely
3 1/2 months early. I was diagnosed with
cerebral palsy but I was really independent
thanks to years of therapy. But then in late
2013, I acquired Guillain Barre Syndrome
which changed my whole level of function.
“I went from being independent to needing
assistance with the most basic tasks
because the condition has affected my
whole body,” she said.
“
What made it harder was the fact
that I had spent my whole life
growing up with a disability and
having years of surgeries and therapy,
only to have to start from scratch.
When it comes to advice for aspiring
Paralympians, Rachael says that the most
important thing is to take it slowly.
Rachael on the day she received her plane ticket
to Rio, you can feel the excitement!
”
“Stay focused and work hard. Be willing
to take a step forward then a few steps
backwards, it’s all part of the process. I
might be a turtle on land but I'm a dolphin
in the water!”
“Rio was amazing,” Rachael explains, “I won
my main event and took home a Gold medal
for the 50m freestyle!”
“I’m short sighted, so when I won my race,
I didn’t know because I couldn’t see the
board clearly enough. I had no idea I had
won until someone told me!” she said.
Rachael said that “I never thought that I'd be
representing Australia at the Paralympics.”
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Touchstone Summer 2016
Rachael with her gold medal for winning the 50m
Freestyle. Photo courtesy of Quest newspapers.