Tokyo Paralympics: Swimmer Ellie Cole emotional at fourth Games

Swimmer Ellie Cole is warning everyone. She will be in tears in Tokyo, but don’t worry. She’s been crying for weeks already.

Paralympic swimmer Ellie Cole trained with the Campbell sisters at Knox Grammar School.

Swimmer Ellie Cole is warning everyone. She will be in tears in Tokyo, but don’t panic.

The Australian swimmer, competing at her fourth Games, said she has been overwhelmed by emotion watching her friends, particularly training mates Cate and Bronte Campbell, compete at the Olympics.

And she believes she will be just as emotional when she gets to the pool deck in Tokyo.

“This really is special. I saw how much joy the Games bought Australians during lockdown,“ Cole said.

Australia Paralympic gun Ellie Cole training in Cairns before flying to Tokyo. Pic: Wade Brennan

“When the Olympics and Paralympics were postponed last year it was really hard. I was training with Cate and Bronte (Campbell) and an extra 52 weeks of training was difficult, especially when you’re at the end of your career.

“But when I walk in I feel like the Paralympic movement is jumping forward in leaps and bounds and the conversation about disability is everywhere and that makes me very happy.”

Cole said she was addicted to watching the Olympics where the Dolphins team starred for Australia with an extraordinary haul of nine gold, three silver and eight bronze medals.

The gun swimmer, who trains at Knox Grammar on Sydney’s north shore, had her mobile phone at the end of the pool during training sessions so she could constantly check results and watch crucial heats and finals.

Ellie Cole has a big program in Tokyo.

Tokyo may be Cole’s final Paralympics.

“I was doing backstroke instead of freestyle so I could watch the big TV,’’ said Cole, who had her leg amputated at age three due to cancer and was enrolled in swimming to help with her rehabilitation.

The star of the Rising Phoenix Netflix documentary about the Paralympic movement, said Tokyo is looming as her final Games.

“I have always seen them as my swan song but I have such a love for swimming, I’d like to continue on if I can,” she said.

“I’d be happy if I continue and if I don’t, I’ll be okay.

“I’m pretty confident I won’t do the next three years but I would look at the Commonwealth Games next year.”

Cate Campbell, Emma McKeon and Ariarne Titmus pose with their medals.

Quizzed if there was any real hope she would extend until Paris 2024, she laughed.

“No, I’ll be 33. But if Cate Campbell goes to Paris I will go to Paris,” said Cole, who is great mates with the Campbell sisters.

Cole said she was enthralled watching her mates swim at the Olympics and cried with them.

“I really notice Cate taking the moment in, really enjoying it,’’ she said.

“I’m tearing up already just thinking about it.”

A six-time gold medallist, Cole is one of the most high-profile members of the Australian swimming team in Tokyo.

However her journey to Tokyo had been littered with difficulties, including the postponement of the Games, reduced international competition and a shocking accident last year.

“In April 2020 I broke my hip,” she said.

“I slipped and fell on my prosthetic knee and the shock went up the fibre glass socket and exploded my hip.

“It broke from the inside, two big breaks on the right side.”

Now recovered she will swim multiple events in Tokyo across the nine day swim program, including the 400m freestyle and backstroke in the S9 class.

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Originally published as Tokyo Paralympics: Swimmer Ellie Cole emotional at fourth Games