Col Pearse

Col Pearse
Personal information
NationalityAustralian
Born (2003-07-10) 10 July 2003 (age 21)
Echuca, Victoria
Height183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight80 kg (176 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
ClassificationsS10, SB9, SM10
ClubNunawading Swim Club
CoachJol Finck
Medal record
Men's Paralympic swimming
Representing  Australia
Paralympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2024 Paris 200 m medley SM10
Bronze medal – third place 2020 Tokyo 100 m butterfly S10
World Para Swimming Championships
Silver medal – second place 2022 Madeira 200 m medley SM10
Silver medal – second place 2022 Madeira 100 m butterfly S10
Silver medal – second place 2023 Manchester 200 m medley SM10
Bronze medal – third place 2019 London 100 m butterfly S10
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Manchester 100 m butterfly S10
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2022 Birmingham 100 m butterfly S10

Col Pearse (born 10 July 2003) is an Australian Paralympic swimmer. At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, he won the bronze medal in the 100 m butterfly S10.[1] At the 2024 Paris Paralympics, he won the silver medal Men's 200 m medley SM10. [2]

Early life

Pearse was born on 10 July 2003 in Echuca, Victoria, to Teena and Julian Pearse.[3] He is the youngest of four children.[4]

At the age of two, Pearse’s right foot was amputated below the ankle after a collision with a ride-on lawnmower.[5][6] He still has his heel bone intact so he can walk on his stump, though his right side is about 5 cm shorter than his left so he has a pronounced limp.[6]

In 2018, Pearse relocated to Melbourne train with a specialist coach at the H2O Swimming Club.[7] He attended St Michael's Grammar School in Melbourne.[7][8] In 2023, he was studying a bachelor of sports media at Holmesglen in Melbourne.[9]

In 2024, Pearse featured in Woolworths Olympics and Paralympics advertising campaign for Paris 2024. The advertisement focused on Pearse swimming training in his family's farm dam and community support. [10]

Career

Besides swimming, Pearse played junior Australian Rules football for the Lockington Cats under-12s, wearing a blue-and-white hooped prosthetic foot inspired by his beloved Geelong Football Club.[6] In late 2016, he was selected as a member of the Australian Paralympic Development Squad. In 2019, he was selected on his first Australian swim team.[11] At the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships in London, he won the bronze medal in the men's 100 m butterfly S10 and sixth in the men's 100 m backstroke S10 and men's 200 m individual medley SM10.[12]

At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, Pearse won the bronze medal in the men's 100 metre butterfly S10 with a time of 57:66, 3 seconds slower than the gold medal winner Maksym Krypak of Ukraine who set a world record. Pearse competed in the men's 200 m individual medley SM10 and made the final where he finished fourth. He also made the final of the men's 100 m backstroke S10 where he finished eighth.[13]

At the 2022 World Para Swimming Championships in Madeira, Pearse won two silver medals - men's 100 m butterfly S10 and Men’s 200 m individual medley SM10.[14]

At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Pearse won the gold medal in the men's 100 m butterfly S10.[15] At the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships in Manchester, England, Pearse won two medals - silver in the Men's 200 m medley SM10 and bronze in the Men's 100 m butterfly S10.

At the 2024 Paris Paralympics, he won the silver medal in the Men's 200 m medley SM10 and finished fourth in the Men's 100 butterfly S10.[16] After winning the silver medal, Pearse reflected on his regional upbringing by stating ""I think for every Australian back home living with a disability, coming from the middle of nowhere in Australia, we tend to think they'll never go far in life" and "And I think that swim there, it really shows it doesn't matter where you come from or who you are, if you've got a dream it's achievable."[16]

Recognition

References

  1. ^ "Paralympics Australia Names Powerful Para-Swimming Team For Tokyo". Paralympics Australia. 16 June 2021. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Paralympics Australia Names Swimming Team For Paris 2024 Games". Paralympics Australia. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Pearse family's pride after Col's Games gold medal". Riverine Herald. 4 August 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Col Pearse". International Paralympic Committee website. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  6. ^ a b c Tuckerman, Raelee (7 June 2014). "Inspiring youngster turns adversity into sporting success". Bendigo Advertiser. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  7. ^ a b "'This is my sport' – St Michael's future Paralympian". St Michael Grammar School website. 11 May 2018. Archived from the original on 12 March 2019. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  8. ^ Gates, Zacchary (26 January 2024). "his Aussie had a leg amputated when he was four. He's now a world champion with an amazing outlook". Wide World of Sports. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Col Pease Shines a light on Education". Swimming Australia. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  10. ^ "Australian Paralympian Col Pearse Stars in Woolworths' Campaign | Paralympics Australia". 17 July 2024.
  11. ^ Johnston, Andrew (26 April 2019). "Col conquers another hurdle". Rivernia Herald. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  12. ^ "Col Pearse". 2019 World Para Swimming Championships Results. Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  13. ^ "Col Pearse". Tokyo Paralympics Official Results. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  14. ^ "Grant Patterson". 2022 World Para Swimming Championships. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Cole, Patterson And Levy Amongst Stars Of The Pool Ready To Splash And Dash In Birmingham". Commonwealth Games Australia. 5 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  16. ^ a b "Aussie amputee's stirring message after medal-winning swim". Nine. 7 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Col Pearse Swimming". Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  18. ^ "Montag Shines Bright At The VIS Award Of Excellence". Victorian Institute of Sport. Retrieved 2 December 2022.