Miss-Delectable
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http://www.examiner.com.au/story.asp?id=316183
Sixteen-year-old Riverside High student Erin Turner is looking forward to swimming at the Pacific School Games in Melbourne later this month - even though she won't hear a starter's gun.
Instead, a tap on the leg will set the profoundly deaf swimmer off her mark in her five individual events - the 50m and 100m freestyle and backstroke and the 50m butterfly - as Tasmania's only multi-disability swimmer at the games.
Not a bad effort for someone who only took up swimming competitively last year.
"I have been involved in athletics for longer and still am - but I really like the swimming environment and am enjoying it at the moment but want to continue with both," she explained through signing yesterday.
"I thought it was awesome when I found out I would be going and can't wait to see some people I've met before and meet some new people."
The Pacific School Games will be held from November 26 to December 4 but Erin said she was unsure of how she would go.
"There will be people from all over the Pacific region and the mainland but my goal is to do personal best times and get a national qualifying time," she said.
Erin is training for about two hours a day ahead of the games under the guidance of coach Darren Bowkett.
She gained valuable experience from competing at an interstate meeting in April this year in Sydney, recording personal best times and winning some medals.
"I can't wait to be part of the Pacific Games team and to meet some more deaf people competing there," she said.
Erin hopes to continue with her swimming, and her goal for the future is to represent Australia in a Paralympic Games team.
Sixteen-year-old Riverside High student Erin Turner is looking forward to swimming at the Pacific School Games in Melbourne later this month - even though she won't hear a starter's gun.
Instead, a tap on the leg will set the profoundly deaf swimmer off her mark in her five individual events - the 50m and 100m freestyle and backstroke and the 50m butterfly - as Tasmania's only multi-disability swimmer at the games.
Not a bad effort for someone who only took up swimming competitively last year.
"I have been involved in athletics for longer and still am - but I really like the swimming environment and am enjoying it at the moment but want to continue with both," she explained through signing yesterday.
"I thought it was awesome when I found out I would be going and can't wait to see some people I've met before and meet some new people."
The Pacific School Games will be held from November 26 to December 4 but Erin said she was unsure of how she would go.
"There will be people from all over the Pacific region and the mainland but my goal is to do personal best times and get a national qualifying time," she said.
Erin is training for about two hours a day ahead of the games under the guidance of coach Darren Bowkett.
She gained valuable experience from competing at an interstate meeting in April this year in Sydney, recording personal best times and winning some medals.
"I can't wait to be part of the Pacific Games team and to meet some more deaf people competing there," she said.
Erin hopes to continue with her swimming, and her goal for the future is to represent Australia in a Paralympic Games team.
