MOST people take being able to swim as a regular part of life which presents no problems.
It’s different for anyone born minus a foot and if one hand is smaller than the other problems moving through the water can be exacerbated.
Shailer Park swimmer 15-year-old Angela Bubb has overcome both those afflictions with panache and she has been selected in a nationwide 24-person development squad for the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
Putting aside her prosthetic foot Angela puts in eight sessions over five days every week to train at the Logan North Aquatic and Fitness Centre with her coach Drew Millar.
“She gets a good bit of pain in her good leg but she easily copes with it,” Mr Millar said.
“Para swimmers are constantly making adjustments because they are unbalanced.
“The Tokyo games were not a target for Angela but she was three seconds off a qualifying time, which was terrific.”
Mr Millar said the Calvary Christian College student has what it takes to qualify for the Paralympic squad in 2024.
“Selection for the development squad is evaluated on time-based performances and Angela did really well,” Mr Millar said.
The swimmer’s expertise was apparent at the recent Australian Age Championships on the Gold Coast where she won two gold medals, four silver medals and set an Australian record.
Angela started swimming at six months old to help her to adjust to being without one foot.
Stephanie Bubb, the swimmer’s mother, said her daughter loved being in the water from day one and started swimming competitively at 11.
“Drew Millar saw her in the pool oneday, commented that she was very good and that’s where it started,” Mrs Bubb said.
“Her mates at school admire the fact that she’s done so well — she beats all of the school’s able-bodied swimmers.”
Mr Millar believes the talented youngster has the drive to achieve Paralympic glory.
He said one of the most special things about Angela was that she didn’t see herself as a person with disabilities.
Angela gets a new prosthetic every couple of years but does not qualify for government assistance.
“That’s because officials say that swimming is not a required life skill,” Mr Millar said.
Mrs Bubb said Angela had pretty much decided what she wants to do with her life.
“She wants do something that involves psychology, maybe in the mental health area,” Mrs Bubb said.
