Swim star Tiffany Thomas Kane pipped as youngest member of Rio Paralympic team
SYDNEY schoolgirl Tiffany Thomas Kane has been beaten to the punch once recently but she doesn’t plan on it happening in the pool at her first Paralympics
- Swifts man-up with Wright move
- Tyler stars and junior stuns
- Swifts, Firebirds on hit-list
- Short and sweet: Women making history
- Agonising end for the Swifts in thriller
SYDNEY schoolgirl Tiffany Thomas Kane has been beaten to the punch once recently but she doesn’t plan on it happening in the pool at her first Paralympics.
The 14-year-old was the youngest member of the Australian team heading to Rio until less than a week ago when fellow swimmer Katja Dedekind made the team to beat her to the milestone by six days.
“I didn’t expect that,’’ laughed the teenage 100m and 50m breaststroke world champion at the unveiling of the world-breaking swimming team to represent Australia in Rio next month.
“But to be honest I’m just happy to have someone my own age to share things with.
“We have roomed together before so I guess I can be the big sister now.’’
The Ravenswood Year 9 student, who is of short stature, is just one of numerous world champions heading to Rio.
The Australian team is headed by swim sensation and dual Paralympian Ellie Cole, on the comeback from two shoulder surgeries, and fellow London Paralympian Brendan Hall.
Swimming is traditionally a medal magnet for Australia at the Paralympics with 119 gold medals won at previous events.
This years team numbers 36, just one less than the number of medals our swimmers collected at the London Paralympics. In the team are 17 debutants.
But missing will be two of the biggest names in the sport in Matthew Cowdrey and Jacqueline Freney who won a combined 16 medals four years ago in London.
Cowdrey has retired with Freney unable to compete for medical reasons.
The swimming team will prepare at a training camp in the US before heading to Rio for the start of the Paralympics on September 7.
Originally published as Swim star Tiffany Thomas Kane pipped as youngest member of Rio Paralympic team
Dynamic duo: Aussies name Para leaders
AFTER a horror crash in Sochi Joany Badenhorst wondered if her dream of competing in a Winter Paralympics was over before it began.
Madison comes up roses at world titles
WHEELCHAIR racer Madison de Rozario showed timing is everything as she raced off with gold and silver in a successful 24 hours at the Para-Athletics world titles in London.
Teen ‘over the moon’ with second world title
SCHOOLGIRL Isis Holt was surprised when she won her first world title this week. Now the teen is “over the moon” after picking up another - along with a world record.