Bamawm’s Col Pearse off to Paralympic Games in Tokyo

A Paralympic swimmer is on the verge of realising his destiny as he steps out of his dam in regional Victoria to head to the 2021 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

Col Pearse will swap the damn for the Olympic pool. Photo: Steve Huntley.

From swimming in a dam on his family farm in country Victoria to racing against the world’s best at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

It sounds too good to be true.

But not for Bamawm Extension’s Col Pearse – he’s about to become a Paralympian at just 17.

Pearse had his right foot amputated when he was a toddler following an accident with a lawnmower.

But he’s never let it get in the way of his dream.

This time last year he was swimming in a dam near Echuca, on the border of Victoria and NSW, fitted with lane ropes, overhead flags and turning walls at either end.

That was between shifts of milking 500 cows and workouts in the garage gym.

“I didn’t swim in the dam for no reason,” he joked.

“There were some cold mornings but it all paid off. I just had to make the most of a bad situation.

“When I was 14 I decided to chase this dream and make the move to Melbourne. For it to all pay off is a massive relief.

“I feel like there is a massive weight off my shoulders.”

Describing the past week as stressful would be an understatement according to Pearse who had been forced to watch the Australian Olympic trials from home.

Despite being given the opportunity to escape Melbourne before it was plunged into lockdown, Pearse decided to stay put and focus on his year 12 studies.

Col Pearse worked hard in the gym during lockdown. Photo: Steve Huntley.

He wasn’t required to attend the event in Adelaide as a ruling adopted by Paralympics Australia and Swimming Australia meant Pearse’s time in his pet event, the 100m butterfly, recorded at the national champs earlier this year could be taken into account.

“I was fortunate enough to post a personal best which was under the qualifying time,” he said.

“I thought my time would be strong enough but it was definitely hard sitting there having to sit there and watch.

“It was a massive relief when the team announcement came through.”

He is now one of 32 swimmers who have been selected to compete in the Australian team at the Games later this year.

The athletes will soon enter a bubble in preparation for the moment in green and gold many of them have dreamt of for so long.

They’ll first head to NSW before a training camp on the Gold Coast.

Then 14 days of quarantine awaits in Tokyo, although they’ll be allowed to train during this time.

“I can’t wait to get to Japan,” Pearse said.

“After the disappointment of last year’s postponement we’re really excited to get over there and show the world what we can do.”

Pearse has already proven himself as a contender in the years to come on the international scene.

In 2019, he won a bronze medal at the World Para Swimming Championships in the 100m butterfly, breaking the Oceania record in the process.

Pearse said his target would be the 100m fly but he hopes opportunities in other events will also come to fruition.

The Games will run from August 24 to September 5.

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