Swimmer Gabrielle Gorman wins two silver and two bronze medals almost 11 years after open heart surgery
Almost 11 years after having open heart surgery, this rising SA super fish starred at the SA Short Course Championships and hopes to be a role model for others with a similar condition.
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Gabrielle Gorman will celebrate 11 years since her ‘life changing’ surgery next month.
The STARplex Swim Club member was born with atrial septal defect, meaning one of the holes in her heart did not close.
At just four years old, Gabrielle underwent the four-hour long open heart surgery.
But now, the youngster is defying all the odds.
She won two bronze (100m butterfly, 200m backstroke) and two silver medals (400m individual medley, 200m butterfly) at this month’s SA Short Course Swimming Championships.
Gabrielle, now 15, wants to be a role model for others who might go through a similar experience.
“It’s been life changing because I wouldn’t be able to be where I am now if I didn’t have it,” The Trinity College Year 10 student said.
“Before the surgery I couldn’t do normal activities like other kids do because I lost my breath quickly.
“I couldn’t even run 100m without a sleep because my body needed to recover.
“I started state swimming in 2015 and this was the first time I had medalled at the Short Course Championships.
“It means a lot because it shows how much I’ve grown and pushed through and how much drive I have.
“I didn’t expect to medal but it showed that I did have the potential.”
The SA Short Course Championships were live streamed on advertiser.com.au and Gabrielle said it was “great to be a part” of the new era for the sport.