She now has London on the agenda

MAARTEN HOLL/The Dominion Post

MARY FISHER: Won two bronze medals at world champs.

Relevant offers

College Sport

Spinners set to make fortunes turn for HIBS St Pat's face tough foes in national sevens pool Discus star intent on defending title Milomilo Nanai off to US juinor college College sport results: Nov 28 Kapiti footballer wins US scholarship Hutt Valley push for place in final Late national call-up cheers Hopkinson College sport results: November 19 College sport results: Nov 14

Two medals from the Paralympic Games world short course swimming championships are just the start for Upper Hutt teenager Mary Fisher.

The Heretaunga College year 12 student is now aiming for the London 2012 Paralympic Games after a successful first world championships outing in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, earlier this month.

"It's just a really great feeling when you walk on to that stage and they call out your name and your country," Fisher said.

"You finally feel like you've made it somewhere really huge."

Fisher won bronze in her favourite event, the 100m backstroke, and added bronze in the 100m butterfly.

The butterfly medal came as a shock. Fisher's sight is so poor that she can not read the scoreboard. After the race she proceeded to the warm-down pool as instructed by an international official, unaware she had won a medal.

An excited Kiwi coach pulled her back. "My coach tapped me and said, 'Mary, come out, come out, get your clothes on for the medal ceremony'."

Fisher, who first signalled talent at Blind Sport Games swimming events, is now training for the British Paralympic Championships in Sheffield next year. She also aims to qualify for Paralympic Games world championships in the Netherlands next year.

She has to post qualifying times at the national championships early next year, so will train hard over the summer.

Fisher trains with an able-bodied swim squad. In backstroke races she has a tapper who lets her know when she is nearing the end of the pool.

The tapper holds a long rod with a foam tip and taps Fisher on the head before each turn.

"You have to practice and you have to have the same kind of trust in any sport when you rely on someone to help you."

- © Fairfax NZ News

Newest First

Oldest First