Jacqueline Freney facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jacqueline Freney

2012 Australian Paralympic team portrait of Freney
Personal information
Nationality	Australia
Born	(1992-06-06) 6 June 1992 (age 33) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Backstroke, Freestyle, Medley
Classifications	S7, SB7, SM7
Club	Richmond Valley
Coach	Michael Freney
Medal record Women's paralympic swimming Representing  Australia Paralympic Games Gold 2012 London 50 m freestyle S7 Gold 2012 London 100 m freestyle S7 Gold 2012 London 400 m freestyle S7 Gold 2012 London 100 m backstroke S7 Gold 2012 London 50 m butterfly S7 Gold 2012 London 200 m medley SM7 Gold 2012 London 4×100 m freestyle Gold 2012 London 4×100 m medley Bronze 2008 Beijing 50 m freestyle S8 Bronze 2008 Beijing 100 m freestyle S8 Bronze 2008 Beijing 400 m freestyle S8 World Championships (LC) Silver 2010 Eindhoven 100 m freestyle S8 Silver 2010 Eindhoven 400 m freestyle S8 World Championships (SC) Silver 2009 Rio de Janeiro 100 m freestyle S8 Silver 2009 Rio de Janeiro 400 m freestyle S8 Silver 2009 Rio de Janeiro 100 m backstroke S8 Silver 2009 Rio de Janeiro 100 m butterfly S8 Bronze 2009 Rio de Janeiro 50 m freestyle S8 Bronze 2009 Rio de Janeiro 4×100 m freestyle relay 34 pts

Jacqueline Rose "Jacqui" Freney OAM (born 6 June 1992) is an Australian Paralympic swimmer. At the 2012 London Games, she achieved amazing success. She won eight gold medals, more than any other athlete at those Games. This included breaking an Australian record for most gold medals at a single Games.

Jacqui Freney's Early Life and Career

Freney at the 2012 London Paralympics

Jacqueline Rose Freney was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. She was born with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy, a condition that affects muscle movement.

Jacqui started her Paralympic journey at the 2008 Beijing Games. There, she won three bronze medals. These were in the women's 100m freestyle S8, 400m freestyle S8, and 50m freestyle S8 events.

London 2012 Paralympic Games Success

The London Paralympic Games were a huge moment for Jacqui. She won an incredible eight gold medals. Her wins included:

• 100m backstroke S7
• 50m butterfly S7
• 100m freestyle S7
• 400m freestyle S7
• 50m freestyle S7
• 200m individual medley SM7
• 4 × 100 m freestyle relay 34 pts
• 4 × 100 m medley relay

She broke Siobhan Paton's Australian record of six gold medals at one Games. Jacqui won her seventh gold medal in the Women's 400 m Freestyle S7. She famously said, "Seven, I am in heaven!" She ended the Games with eight gold medals. This made her the most successful athlete at the London Paralympics.

Training and World Championships

Jacqui Freney lives in Skenners Head, Ballina, New South Wales. Her father, Michael, is her coach. Her grandfather, Peter Freney, also coached another famous Paralympic swimmer, Siobhan Paton. Jacqui's grandfather helps her with her career development. In 2008, she received a special scholarship from the Australian Institute of Sport for Paralympic swimming.

At the 2010 IPC Swimming World Championships in Eindhoven, Netherlands, Jacqui won two silver medals. These were in the women's 100m freestyle and 400m freestyle S8 events.

In 2011, Jacqui's swimming classification changed from S8 to S7. This change happened just before the Can-Am Swimming Open. At this event in La Mirada, she set a new world record in the S7 400m freestyle event. She broke the record twice, once in the heats and again in the finals with a time of 4:59.95. She also won two silver medals in the S7 50m and 100m freestyle events.

Jacqui was unable to compete at the 2016 Summer Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. This was due to a medical issue that affected her training.

Awards and Recognition

Freney receives the trophy as the 2012 Australian Paralympian of the Year from the Australian Minister for Sport Kate Lundy

Jacqui Freney has received many awards for her amazing achievements.

• In February 2012, she was named Ballina Shire's Sportsperson of the Year.
• She was a finalist for the 2012 Australian Paralympian of the Year. She won both the best female athlete award and the top overall honor.
• In 2012, Australia Post honored her by releasing a special stamp with her picture.
• In November 2013, she was named New South Wales Young Australian of the Year for 2014.
• On 25 January 2014, she was named the national Young Australian of the Year.
• The next day, she received a Medal of the Order of Australia. This award was for her service to sport as a gold medallist at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
• In October 2014, she was honored at the Path of Champions. This is located at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.

Jacqui earned her Young Australian of the Year award not just for her swimming. She was also very active in the community. She worked with Swimming Australia as a motivational speaker. She helped inspire people with disabilities to achieve their best.

See also

In Spanish: Jacqueline Freney para niños