Izzy Vincent sets sights on Paris 2024 after becoming Australia’s youngest Tokyo Paralympic medallist
At just 15 Izzy ‘Superfish’ Vincent has landed home as one of the youngest medallists in Australian Paralympic history and the South Australian has already set her sights on Paris.
Local Sport
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Two Paralympic medals from four races is great returns for any experienced swimmer, let alone someone in their third year of the sport – like 15-year-old Izzy Vincent.
SA’s ‘Superfish’ went to the Games as the nation’s youngest athlete and has landed home as one of the youngest medallists in Australian Olympic and Paralympic history.
Born with sacral agenisis - a condition which means her spine stops above the sacrum and leaving her with nerve issues and missing ligaments - Vincent finished sixth in the 200 Individual Medley final, ninth in the 100-metre freestyle final, and medalled with bronze in the 4x100 Medley relay and silver in the 4x100 freestyle relay.
Currently in hotel quarantine in Melbourne, she said her success had only started to set in.
“Every time I think about it I can’t quite believe it,” Vincent said.
“Being able to medal twice alongside some amazing girls was really special. I’ll always share that bond with them.
“It’s a weird feeling when I think about being able to achieve this at my age. The Games were such a great learning experience for me and I’m so lucky to have had that at just 15.”
A product of the Norwood Swimming Club, Vincent only truly splashed onto the scene two years ago and went to Tokyo with no expectations.
The young-gun produced a strong two laps as the second swimmer in her silver medal 4x100 Medley relay, setting her teammates up perfectly, and in the 4x100 freestyle relay she powered home as the final racer to win Australia bronze.
“I was really nervous as the last swimmer in my second relay, it was a lot of pressure,” she said.
“I just wanted to stick near the top and not slip to fourth and when I got to the end and touched the wall it was an amazing feeling – the girls all held my hand and I could hear the rest of the Australian athletes cheering for me. It was unbelievable.
“When I stepped up to the podium it was so amazing seeing all the other Australian swimmers waving at me – it made me really proud.”
While the Tokyo Games were initially daunting for Vincent, she said the support of Team Australia as well as everyone back home pushed her to success.
“The whole Paralympic team, we had a really special bond. Every athlete was always so supportive of each other and they were all some of the most amazing people I’ve ever met,” she said.
“All my family, my friends and my Norwood coach Shaun Curtis watched each of my events and sent me texts all the time so it really relaxed me to have that support.
“I’ve discovered I need to work on responding to texts, I’m using quarantine to make sure I reply to everyone who sent me messages of congratulations and support.”
While she has only been back in Australia for just over a week, Vincent is already bursting at the seams to get back into the pool.
She remains driven to achieve her goals of competing in the Commonwealth Games, Paris 2024 and Brisbane 2032.
“I really want to get back to training at Norwood and SASI as soon as I can,” Vincent said.
“I’m definitely keeping my eyes on Paris and I want to be able to make Brisbane in 2032.
“It would be amazing to be able to swim in front of everyone at home.”
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