Biography
Impairment information
Origin of Impairment
Congenital
Classification
S5, SB4, SM5
Further personal information
Residence
Gainesville, FL, USA
Occupation
Student
Languages
English
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
She took up the sport at age 12 in Gainesville, Florida.
Why this sport?
She became interested in swimming because of Miranda Uhl, a local swimmer who won a gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. "It makes me feel great," she says of swimming. "I feel in shape, I feel strong and I feel fast."
Club / Team
High Tide Aquatics: United States
Name of coach
Jennifer Davidson [club, national assistant]
Coach from which country?
United States
Coach from what year?
2010
Training Regime
She trains five days per week.
International debut
Year
2010
Competing for
United States
General interest
Ambitions
To inspire other children with a physical disability. (gainesville.com, 12 June 2011)
Impairment
She was born with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita, a non-progressive disability characterised by multiple joint contractures that limits her arm use. It also affects her spine and limits the flexibility of her legs. Her condition affects her arms, hands, right leg and foot. (gainesville.com, 12 June 2011; Athlete, 14 Dec 2011)
Other information
SWIMMING METHOD
"When she dives in, her head hits the water first, and most of her swimming is her kicking," says her coach, Jennifer Davidson. "Her arms aren't really of much use in the water. She has to touch her head to the wall when she's finished. She's really quite phenomenal." (gainesville.com, 12 June 2011)
FAMILY
She is supported by her mother, Jolie Todd, a single mother, and her younger sisters, Cameron and Ava Childs. "She's amazing and she's really a lot of fun," Cameron says. "She supports me in my volleyball, and I support her with her swimming." (gainesville.com, 12 June 2011)
"When she dives in, her head hits the water first, and most of her swimming is her kicking," says her coach, Jennifer Davidson. "Her arms aren't really of much use in the water. She has to touch her head to the wall when she's finished. She's really quite phenomenal." (gainesville.com, 12 June 2011)
FAMILY
She is supported by her mother, Jolie Todd, a single mother, and her younger sisters, Cameron and Ava Childs. "She's amazing and she's really a lot of fun," Cameron says. "She supports me in my volleyball, and I support her with her swimming." (gainesville.com, 12 June 2011)
Results
Unit | Date | Rank |
---|
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Women's 200 m Freestyle S5 | Heat 2 | 2012-09-01 | 6 | |
Women's 50 m Butterfly S5 | Heat 2 | 2012-09-07 | 4 |