ISOBEL COLEMAN
Cooroy local Sue Stanley – named Volunteer of the Year at Friday’s Sunshine Coast Sports Star of the Year Awards – says she will continue to fight for the rights of Down Syndrome swimmers.
Retiring from her many committee roles after more than two decades, Sue said Queensland was behind the times and we mustn’t give up.
Sue’s son Clinton is a multiple record-breaking and gold medal winning Down Syndrome swimmer – and the inspiration behind her battle for more equality for disabled athletes.
“We have pushed for more than 15 years for Down Syndrome swimmers to have their own classification. At present, they compete under S14 – swimmers with an intellectual disability. But that’s too general,” she said.
“Clinton has had to compete against 6ft men who can drive a car but are classed ‘slow learners’. That’s not fair – it makes no allowance for stature, muscle tone etc, which affects those with Down Syndrome.”
Sue believes it’s especially unfair when Down Syndrome swimmers have represented Australia – and won – all over the world.
“That’s why we started the Down Syndrome Down Under Swimming Organisation in 2005. Since 2008, thanks to these swimmers, Australia’s been world champion three times. This year they will compete again, in Mexico.
“The classification has to change sooner or later, so that Down Syndrome swimmers have their own classification. It’s happened already in NSW and Victoria. Until then, we’ll just keep getting out there and showing what they can do.”
