Para swimmer Maddie McTernan inspires youngsters to live their dream Coffs Coast Sport Sport by News Of The Area - Modern Media - November 9, 2022 Maddie wins the Women’s 200m multiclass Freestyle final at the Australian Swimming Championships in Adelaide in April 2022. This win got her selected on the Australian Para-team for the 2022 World Para-swimming Championships which were held in Portugal, June 2022. MADDIE McTernan is back on the Mid North Coast as guest speaker at Swimming North Coast’s Para Swimming Development Day at South Grafton Indoor on Sunday, 13 November from 10.00am to 2.30pm. Maddie, a Coffs Harbour swimming native, will share the experience and philosophy she has gained while successfully developing her swimming career. “I will be talking about my struggles growing up, my love of swimming and Coffs Harbour Swim Club, my Coffs coach Eugene Brogmus believing in me and helping me live my dream of making the Australian swim team,” Maddie told News Of The Area. “I want to tell people about Tokyo and about my Paralympic experience winning a silver medal, and about my World Para-swimming Championships in Portugal this year and winning two more silver medals for Australia. “I want to help people to join multiclass swimming and live their dream. “I want to tell everyone not to give up and be proud of who they are and enjoy what they are doing,” she said. Maddie became a household name after she took home eight medals at the 2019 Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming and Age Championships. Her performance at nationals earned her a Dolphins cap, and her first chance to represent Australia at the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships in London. In 2020, Maddie broke a world record in the women’s 400m freestyle S14 in 4:35.56 at the 2020 Australian Short Course Championships. A Paralympic silver medallist, Maddie earned her ticket to Tokyo at the Australian Swimming Trials in Adelaide. At the Tokyo Paralympic Games, she claimed a silver medal in the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay S14 with her teammates Ricky Betar, Benjamin Hance and Ruby Storm. Para swimmers from neighbouring areas, and new members to the sport of swimming are welcome to attend. Programming will include a training and information session for both new swimmers and established classified swimmers on the North Coast. Any questions, contact Development Coordinator Peter Brack on 0417 772 323, President Ann Pilkie on 0476 346 651, or email Swimming North Coast at swimmingnorthcoastdev@gmail.com. By Andrea FERRARI Maddie McTernan with young members of her former Coffs Harbour Swimming Club.
