In between training as an elite para-athlete and attending international sporting competitions, 19-year-old Rhiannon Clarke is busy planning for her future both on and off the field.
This inspirational young woman recently completed the Swim Teacher by Royal Life Saving course, and kindly took time out of her busy schedule to chat to us about the experience and why she wants to become a swimming teacher.
Rhiannon, who was born with cerebral palsy, will be making her Paralympics debut at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games where she will be competing in the T38 100m and 400m events. However, she’s no stranger to international sporting events.
At just 15 years old, Rhiannon impressively took out a silver medal in the T38 100m at the 2018 Commonwealth Games! She says she is “most proud of” that medal, as well as her “two bronze medals from the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in the T38 100m and 200m.”
Rhiannon was 12 when she first got into running. “I went to a Para Athletics ‘Come & Try Day’, and I have enjoyed running ever since,” she says. She’s also a keen swimmer and wants “to help teach children how to swim”, which helped her decide to do the Swim Teacher by Royal Life Saving course.
“I started swimming lessons at Wanneroo Aquamotion when I was a baby and I continued up until I was 15. I got my Bronze Star and I used to compete in junior pool lifesaving competitions. I enjoy swimming and need to earn an income as an athlete.”
“I enjoyed the course; the instructor was kind and I got to meet new people. I am still planning to complete my practical hours later this year after I come back from Tokyo. I think learning to swim is very important, especially in Australia, because of the Australian culture to have pools and go to the beach – people should know how to swim and survive.”
When she isn’t tearing it up on the track or doing laps of the pool, Rhiannon is studying Wildlife Conservation at the University of Western Australia. She’s also got her sights set on her next international meets, saying her plan when she returns from Tokyo is to “continue preparations for the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and the next World Championships.”
We wish this incredible young lady the best of luck for Tokyo and look forward to seeing her teaching swimming at the local pool in between jet setting around the globe!
Learn more about starting your own Swim Teacher journey at the link below.
