Krystal Shaw
Krystal Leesa Shaw (born 14 February 1994) is a Canadian Paralympic swimmer who competes in international level events.[1]
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Krystal Leesa Shaw | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Nickname(s) | Keely | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada | 14 February 1994||||||||||||||||||||||
Home town | Vancouver, British Columbia | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.40 m (4 ft 7 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Country | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | Paralympic swimming | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Disability | Arthrogryposis | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Disability class | S7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Club | Flatland Swimming Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Coached by | Michel Berube Jeff Toth | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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When she was born, she was diagnosed with arthrogryposis and was born with club feet, a dislocated hip and underdeveloped legs. She also had gastroschisis and doctors thought that she would never walk however she did manage to walk after having pins in her leg and a metal frame for six months when she was five years old, after many surgeries she took her first steps aged six years old.[2]
Swimming career
Shaw started swimming aged nine when she had to develop her muscles then started competing in major championships aged fourteen, she won two silver medals in a major competition where she competed against swimmers from her native country, United States and Mexico. She competed for Saskatchewan province team in the Canada Games and won a bronze medal. She participated in Canada's national Paralympic swimming team at the 2009 IPC Swimming World Championships. She had to take a seven year break after developing a blood clot in her leg and was not allowed to swim. She resumed her career after her long break.[3]
Her highest achievement was competing for Canada at the 2019 Parapan American Games where she won four medals in eight events.[4][5]
References
- "Krystal Shaw - Para-Swimming Team". Swimming Canada. 23 May 2020.
- "Krystal Shaw - IPC Athlete Bio". ipc.infostradasports.com. 23 May 2020.
- "Krystal Shaw - Canadian Paralympic Committee". Canadian Paralympic Committee. 23 May 2020.
- Guignard, Jonathan (9 September 2019). ""A cherry on top": Moose Jaw, Sask. swimmer earns four medals at Parapan Am Games". Global News Canada.
- Giesbrecht, Lynn (3 September 2019). "Moose Jaw swimmer wins four medals at Parapan American Games". Regina Leader Post.