Swimmer Madi Scott placed in three events in a recent competition in Berlin.
Camera IconSwimmer Madi Scott placed in three events in a recent competition in Berlin. Credit: Supplied/Dominique Menegaldo

Star makes a big splash

Lauren Pilat, Eastern ReporterEastern Reporter

The 20-year-old Paralympian placed in all three butterfly events she competed in, winning silver in the 50 metre (32.43s) and 200m (2m 48.87s) events and bronze in the 100m (1m 12.22s).

Scott was surprised by her results and said she had been swimming ‘a little off’ her personal best until then.

She has Erb’s Palsy caused by an injury to the nerves surrounding the shoulder and has been swimming since she was six.

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‘I stopped at eight because of a few reasons, mainly my arm,’ she said.

‘At the time my mum wasn’t aware that my disability was severe enough to allow me to swim as a disabled swimmer.

‘After learning that I could swim as a disabled swimmer my mum began the lengthy process to get me classified.

‘That happened when I was around 13 and I have been swimming non-stop since then.’

Scott said her disability did not worry her but drew a fair bit of attention and teasing from her two older sisters, one of whom is her swimming coach. ‘My life isn’t really impacted,’ she said.

‘Except when dancing the YMCA, the letters never look like they should.

‘Swimming is different because it is an upper body dominated sport.

‘My kick is strong and I dominate most able body swimmers in that particular area, but if I have to swim with just my arms, I am kind of slow.’

The dedicated swimmer who trains at Terry Tyzack Leisure Centre in Inglewood now has her sights set on the 2016 Rio Paralympics, hoping to make the Australian team with the help of sister and coach Stacey.