PARALYMPICS

SWIMMING

By TOM HAYES

 

A PAIR of Traralgon swimmers will be out to represent the region, as well as the nation, when they compete at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Emily Beecroft and Ruby Storm have recently flown to the French capital in preparation for the Games, which begins in the early hours of tomorrow (Thursday, August 29 AEST).

It won’t be their first time representing Australia on the biggest stage together, with the pair doing so at the Tokyo 2020 (2021 due to COVID-19) Paralympics.

The upcoming Games will be Storm’s second representation, while Beecroft becomes a three-time Paralympian after making her debut as a 16-year-old at the Rio 2016 Paralympics.

The two qualified for the Games during the 2024 Australian Swimming Trials at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre from June 10 to 15.

They will be a part of the 142-paralympian-strong Australian team, who will compete across 17 different disciplines.

 

Emily Beecroft – S9 Classification

BEECROFT qualified for two events in the S9 classification, while also making one of the 34-point relay teams.

The S9 classification is for swimmers who have their co-ordination affected at a low level in the arms and legs, a high degree of weakness in one leg, or the absence of limbs.

The 34-point relay team allows four swimmers with their classifications adding up to 34. For instance, a 34-point relay team might consist of an S7, S8, S9, and an S10 Paralympian, or two S8 and two S9 Paralympians.

While at the Australian Swimming Trials in June, Beecroft qualified for the S9 100m freestyle and the S9 100m butterfly.

When the relay teams were being finalised, Beecroft discovered she had made the 34-point 4x100m mixed medley relay, meaning she’d have three events to prepare for in Paris.

When speaking to the Express in June, based off her more recent performances, Beecroft hopes to do more than just compete.

“I’ve always just been really grateful and happy to attend a Paralympics,” she said upon her qualification.

“I think going into this year, I think just based off my performances this year and based off performances from my other competitors, I’m hoping to do more than just compete.

“I’m in good contention of getting a podium finish, so hopefully I can continue to do some good times… and hopefully grab an individual medal.”

An individual medal has eluded Beecroft at the Paralympics, although she has won relay medals at the last Paralympic Games.

During her Paralympic appearance in 2016 at the Rio Games, a 16-year-old Beecroft qualified for three finals from her four events, however, was unable to score her first medal.

At her following Paralympic appearance in 2021 at the Tokyo Games, Beecroft claimed her first silver and bronze medals in the 34-point 4x100m freestyle relay and 34-point 4x100m women’s medley relay respectively.

From an individual standpoint in Tokyo, Beecroft qualified for the S9 100m freestyle final, but missed out on a medal.

Leading into the 2024 Paris Games, Beecroft has gained plenty of momentum, especially during the Madeira 2022 World Para Swimming Championships.

There, she claimed Gold during the 34-point 4x100m mixed medley relay, while also sustaining individual success with two silver medals in the S9 100m freestyle and S9 100m butterfly – the events she has qualified for at the upcoming Games.

Beecroft will be in action between Monday, September 2 and Saturday, September 7.

 

Ruby Storm – S14 Classification

ALTHOUGH it wasn’t immediate, Storm qualified for four individual S14 events and an S14 mixed relay.

The S14 classification is for swimmers who find it hard to understand and apply techniques and strategies, especially in busy arenas.

During the Australian Swimming Trials in June, Storm had the nervous wait while the team was being finalised as she did not qualify immediately, but luckily for her, she made the team in multiple events.

She qualified for four individual events: the S14 100m butterfly, S14 200m freestyle, S14 200m individual medley, and S14 100m backstroke. Storm also made it into a relay team, qualifying for the S14 4x100m mixed freestyle relay.

Once it was confirmed that she was going to her second Paralympic Games, Storm spoke to the Express on her qualification.

“I was pretty relieved, very happy with how I went over at trials. I think as it’s a very stressful week, and we got a text message saying that we made it, and I think when a lot of us received that text message a lot of weight just came off our shoulders,” she said in June.

“I do pretty well with a heavy schedule, just with the stress and everything, just not putting all the eggs in one basket with events.”

Heading into her second Paralympics, Storm has already achieved so much as she enters Paris at the age of 20.

She created a name for herself during the London 2019 World Para Swimming Championships, aged just 15-years-old. There, she was a part of the bronze-winning S14 4x100m mixed freestyle relay. She also competed in three other events, winning no medals, but at such a young age it was such a rich opportunity.

She earnt her first Paralympics call-up for the Tokyo 2020 Games, still aged just 17. Storm won Paralympic silver at her first games in the S14 4x100m mixed freestyle relay, also enduring individual success, winning bronze in the S14 100m butterfly.

At Tokyo she made three other finals but was unable to earn more medals.

Since her last Paralympics appearance, Storm has remained active in the pool in preparation for the Paris Games.

In the last three years, Storm has travelled the world, competing at the Madeira 2022 World Para Swimming Championships, earning silver in the S14 4x100m mixed freestyle relay, as well as the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and the Manchester 2023 World Para Swimming Championships, where she won another silver in the S14 4x100m mixed freestyle relay.

Storm will be in action in Paris from Thursday, August 29 until Saturday, September 7.