Sandra Yaxley

Sandra Yaxley
Personal information
Full nameSandra Yaxley
Nationality Australia
Born1968
Medal record
Swimming
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1988 Seoul Women's 100 m Freestyle C6
Gold medal – first place 1992 Barcelona Women's 4x50 m Freestyle S1–6
Silver medal – second place 1988 Seoul Women's 50 m Backstroke C6
Bronze medal – third place 1992 Barcelona Women's 100 m Freestyle S6

Sandra Yaxley, OAM[1] is a cerebral palsy[2] Australian Paralympic swimmer. At the 1988 Seoul Games, she won a gold medal in the Women's 100 m Freestyle C6 and a silver medal in the Women's 50 m Backstroke C6.[3] At the 1992 Barcelona Games, she won a gold medal in the Women's 4x50 m Freestyle S1–6 event and a bronze medal in the Women's 100 m Freestyle S6 event.[3] She retired from swimming after the 1992 Paralympics but took up coaching disabled and able-bodied swimmers.[4] She was coached by Wayne De Lacy.[5]

Yaxley was originally from Tasmania and moved to Perth, Western Australia at an early age. She began swimming when she was four as a form of rehabilitation.[2] She attended Swanbourne Senior High School.[5] In 2000, she was awarded the Australian Sports Medal[6] and in 2013 inducted into Swimming Western Australia Hall of Fame at the age of 44.[2]

Yaxley's motto is "Let me try and, if I can't do it, I'll know, but if I can do it, then watch out world."[2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Yaxley, Sandra, OAM". It's an Honour. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d Foreman, Glenn (17 June 2013). "Sandra Yaxley a paralympic trailblazer". Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Athlete Search Results". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  4. ^ "Hall of Fame". Swimming Western Australia website. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  5. ^ a b "Paralympics Profile - Sandra Yaxley". International Swimmer. 25: 11. December 1988.
  6. ^ "Yaxley, Sandra: Australian Sports Medal". It's an Honour. Retrieved 12 January 2012.