Conondale girl is determined to qualify in this year’s Paralympic Games
By Kirra Livingstone
CONONDALE swim sensation Kael Thompson is on the cusp of her biggest achievement yet as she races this week to qualify for the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games’ Australian squad.
The Australian Olympic and Paralympic Trials are being held in Brisbane this week.
Kael will be racing in the 200m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 200m individual medley, 100m freestyle and 100m backstroke, to qualify for the Paris Games, which start on August 28.
The teams will be finalised on June 14.
Kael said it would be “out of this world” if she was selected.
“It’s been a dream of mine to compete in the Paralympic Games since I went competitive,” she said.
“I would be so excited if I was picked in the team.
“I would love to be the first Paralympion from Maleny High, because why not?”
The 17-year-old talent has been training in state development squads for a few years, and currently holds 12 Queensland records, four national records, and she also broke an Oceania record in 2023.
Her swimming journey started at the Beerwah Pool, where is coached by Charlie Barry, and it’s also where her mum, Christine Peters, works as a learn to swim teacher.
“Charlie is such a great coach, he’s really helped me with my strokes, one of the reasons I want to be a Paralympian is so that he can be a Paralympic coach, because that’s always been his dream,” Kael said.
“When Charlie left the Beerwah Pool to train at Sunshine Coast Grammar, we followed him because he’s such a great swimming coach.”
Kael will be swimming at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre for the Paralympic trials.
kirra@gcnews.com.au