Ashleigh McConnell
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Ashleigh McConnell OAM (swimming) claimed her first major international individual medal at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, taking bronze in the 100m backstroke S9. At her second Games in Birmingham, she finished fourth in the women’s 100m freestyle S9.
Ashleigh was born without her left forearm and left hand and started swimming aged four. After narrowly missing selection for the London 2012 Paralympics and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, she made her Para Dolphins debut at the 2015 world championships in Glasgow. The following year, she was part of the gold medal-winning women’s 4x100m freestyle 34 points relay team at the Rio 2016 Paralympics and added silver in the same event at the Tokyo Paralympics.
Coached by two-time Olympian and Commonwealth Games representative Kenrick Monk at Melbourne Vicentre, Ashleigh identifies fellow S9 swimmer and Commonwealth Games medallist Matt Cowdrey OAM as her swimming hero. One of her favourite quotes is from Dr Seuss: “You have to be odd to be number one”.
She has a Bachelor of Business from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Sport / Discipline
Swimming
Birth Place
East Melbourne
Birth state
VIC
Date of Birth
26/03/1996
Age
30
SOCIAL MEDIA
Gold Coast, 2018
Birmingham, 2022
Results History
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Additional Information
Languages Spoken:
English
Are you a citizen of a country other than Australia? If yes, please provide details?
No
Education Details:
RMIT Business
Club details:
Melbourne Vic Centre
Why did you begin your sport?
Through family
Do you have any pre-competition routines or rituals?
Nil
What is your most memorable sporting achievement?
Gold at 2016 Paralympic Games
Who is your hero / idol, and why? Have you ever met them?
Matt Cowdrey - yes. Greatest Paralympian of all time in swimming
Who has been the most influential person or people in your career and why?
Nil
Do you have any hobbies away from your sport?
nil
What is your sporting ambition?
Win more medals.
