Tracy Barrell

Tracy Lee Barrell, OAM[1] is a triple congenital amputee Paralympic swimmer from Australia. She won two gold medals at the 1992 Barcelona Games. She is a strong advocate for people with disabilities and an indigenous Australian.[2]

Tracy Barrell
Personal information
Full nameTracy Lee Barrell
Nationality Australia
Born1974
Medal record
Swimming
Paralympic Games
1992 Barcelona Women's 4x50 m Freestyle S1-6
1992 Barcelona Women's 50 m Butterfly S3-4

Personal

Barrell was born without legs and with only one arm.[3] Barrell stated that doctors said her disability was due to genetic mutation from an anti morning sickness pill that mother Terri had taken.[4] Barrell sat on a skateboard and used her one arm for her mobility as a child.[4] She decided not to use prosthetic legs.[4] She attended St Patrick's College, Sutherland in Sydney.[5] She has two sons – Bryce and Oscar.[4]

Sporting career

In 1989, at the age of 14, her mother enrolled her with the NSW Amputee Sporting Association and she commenced her swimming career.[4] She was coached by Mick Maroney.[4] Her first major competition was the NSW State Games held at Narrabeen Sports Centre where she won gold in four swimming events and two athletics throwing events.[3] Her results led her to being award the Athlete of the Games. She was classified as a S4 swimmer.[5] She won two gold medals at the 1992 Barcelona Games in the Women's 4x50 m Freestyle S1-6 event and the Women's 50 m Butterfly S3-4 event and finished fourth in two individual events.[6] Barrell has indigenous heritage.[7] She retired in 1994 due to injury and surgery to her only arm.[3] In 2008, she represented Australia at the Shanghai Women's Sitting Volleyball Tournament.[8]

Advocacy

Since her retirement from sport, she has been a strong advocate for opportunities for people with a disability.[8] Between 2008 and 2011, she was an ambassador for Don't DIS my ABILITY, a program that provides inspirational role models for people with disabilities. In 2013, she was appointed as a Living Life My Way Ambassadors and Champions by the New South Wales Government.[2]

In 2011, she was denied access to all rides at Movie World Studios due to a change in their safety policy. In previous visits, she was able to access all the rides.[9]

References
  1. "Barrell, Tracy Lee". It's an Honour. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  2. "Meet our Aboriginal Ambassadors and Champions". NSW Family and Community Services website. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  3. "Tracy Barrell". One of Me. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  4. "Barrell is proof that dreams can come true". That's Life website. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  5. "Courage, determination pave Tracy's golden path to Spain More than 'mucking around' in the water". Canberra Times. 12 July 1992. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  6. "Athlete Search Results". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  7. "Famous Aboriginal Paralympians". Creative Spitits. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  8. "Ambassadord 2009". Don't DIS my ABILITY website. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  9. "Paralympian Movie World Embarrasment [sic]". Parkz website. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
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