Conondale para swimmer, Kael Thompson, is making waves in the swimming pool again, after just falling short of qualifying for the Paris 2024 Paralympic swim team.
Late last month, Kael attended the 2025 Para Swimming World Series in Indianapolis in the USA, and won five gold, one silver and three bronze medals.
In the 100m breaststroke heat, she achieved a huge PB of 3.37, however due to a disqualification in the finals, she was ineligible to receive a placing. She also conducted her second international classification to prepare her for future international competitions.
Kael’s mum, Christine Peters, said she worked incredibly hard to get where she is now, and continues to improve after each swim event.
“I’m extremely proud of Kael, medals are just a token for the physical and mental toll this last 10 days have been,” she said. “Fighting through long flights, hard training, international classification, unfamiliar places, diet changes, injuries and illness.”
Since GC&M News last spoke to Christine and Kael, the now 18-year-old pocket rocket has moved from training at Sunshine Coast Grammar, to the USC Spartans. She received a scholarship for a place on the coveted swim team.
Christine said the team, and facilities at UniSC, are the hub of para swimming on the Sunshine Coast, giving her the tools she needs to reach her full potential.
“Kael is like a new swimmer now, she is completely different and swimming even better than ever,” she said.
Kael’s next competition will be the Swimming Australia trials, which will take place from June 9–14 at the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre.
