Tracy Barrell facts for kids
Barrell in 1992
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
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| Nationality |  Australia |
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| Born | 1974 (age 50–51) New South Wales, Australia |
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Medal record
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Tracy Lee Barrell, who was born in 1974, is an amazing Australian swimmer. She was born without legs and with only one arm. Tracy won two gold medals at the Paralympic Games in Barcelona in 1992. She is also a strong supporter of people with disabilities and is an Indigenous Australian.
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About Tracy Barrell
Tracy Barrell was born in New South Wales, Australia, in 1974. She was born without legs and with only one arm. Doctors explained that this was a birth difference. As a child, Tracy used a skateboard and her one arm to move around. She chose not to use artificial legs. She went to St Patrick's College, Sutherland in Sydney for her schooling.
Tracy got married in 1995 and later divorced. She has two sons, Bryce and Oscar, with her partner Brad. She raised her children as a single mother.
Tracy's Sporting Journey
Starting to Swim
In 1989, when Tracy was 14, her mother helped her join the NSW Amputee Sporting Association. This is where her swimming career began. She was coached by Mick Maroney and later by Greg Hodge.
Her first big competition was the NSW State Games. There, she won four gold medals in swimming. She also won two gold medals in athletics throwing events. Because of her great results, she was named the "Athlete of the Games." Tracy was classified as an S4 swimmer, which is a category for athletes with certain physical impairments.
Paralympic Gold Medals
Thanks to her mother, Tracy was able to go to the 1992 Barcelona Games in Spain. She won two gold medals at these Paralympic Games.
- One gold medal was in the Women's 4x50 meter Freestyle S1-6 event.
- The other gold medal was in the Women's 50 meter Butterfly S3-4 event.
She also placed fourth in two other individual swimming races.
In 1993, Tracy received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her amazing achievements in sports, especially at the Paralympics.
Retirement and Other Sports
Tracy stopped swimming in 1994. This was because of an injury and surgery to her only arm. Even after retiring from swimming, she continued to be active in sports. In 2008, she played for Australia in the Shanghai Women's Sitting Volleyball Tournament.
Helping Others: Tracy's Advocacy Work
After she stopped competing in sports, Tracy became a strong supporter for people with disabilities. She wanted to make sure they had many opportunities.
Between 2008 and 2015, Tracy was an ambassador for a program called "Don't DIS my ABILITY." This program helps by showing inspiring role models for people with disabilities.
In 2011, Tracy faced a challenge at Movie World Studios. She was not allowed on any rides because of new safety rules. This was different from her past visits, where she could enjoy all the rides.
In 2013, the New South Wales Government chose Tracy as a "Living Life My Way Ambassador and Champion." This role involves helping people with disabilities live independently.
Tracy also has Indigenous heritage. In 2015, she was a spokesperson for the First Peoples Disability Network. On December 3rd of that year, she took part in a special event. This event celebrated Indigenous Paralympians at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Sydney.
See also
In Spanish: Tracy Barrell para niños
