By Mick McDonald
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
SWIMMER Kimberley Beaton is on track to qualify for the 2016 Paralympics to be held in Rio de Janeiro.
This is according to her coach, Jeremy Wardrop.
Kimberley's best strokes are the 100m backstroke and the 50m freestyle.
However, her coach believes the backstroke is her ticket to Rio.
"We need for Kimberley to improve her time by another three seconds to qualify (for Rio),'' Wardrop said.
"But we're aiming for a five second improvement.''
Time is on the 19-year-old's side.
"The qualifying meet for the Olympics will be the 2016 national titles to be held at Adelaide.
"We have 18 months,'' Wardrop said.
"And considering the improvement that Kimberley's made in the last two years, she should be able to make the time.''
Kimberley swims in the S14 class. She started swimming as a six-year-old.
Until then she was unable to walk unaided and a doctor suggested she get into the pool to help develop her legs.
It proved a master stroke. By 2005 Kimberley was reguarly competing in carnivals. She won bronze medals at the Pacific School games and gained a first at national level in the 50m freestyle, while she was also second in the 100m free and 50m back.
At open level she was the North Coast short course and long course champion last year while she won the short course this year. Kimberley and her coach have been selected in the NSW development squad.
She was also seventh in the Australian 100m free while she set an amazing 10 new records at the Australian championships held in Brisbane last April in the 50m free, 100m free, 50m back and 50m fly.
Kimberley's been with Wardrop since he moved to the area as coach of the YMCA Manning Aquatic Centre in early 2013.
She has nine training sessions in the poor a week, both in the morning and afternoon. It's virtually a 12 month endeavour as she works towards her dream of qualifying for Rio.
"She only has six weeks a year off,'' Wardrop said.
"But she's always keen to get back into training.''
Kimberley competes 10 times a year at elite level.
This includes country, State and national meets.
She represents the Wingham club in competition. While winning medals is a bonus, Kimberley loves the sport for other reasons.
"It keeps me fit,'' she says.
"And I get to meet new people and travel.''
Travelling, she hopes, all the way to Rio in 2016.