Sandra Yaxley
FullnameSandra Yaxley
Birth date1968

Sandra Yaxley is a cerebral palsy[1] 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.[2] 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.[2] She retired from swimming after the 1992 Paralympics but took up coaching disabled and able-bodied swimmers.[3] She was coached by Wayne De Lacy.[4]

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.[1] She attended Swanbourne Senior High School.[4] In 2000, she was awarded the Australian Sports Medal[5] and in 2013 inducted into Swimming Western Australia Hall of Fame at the age of 44.[1]

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."[1]

References

  1. ^ Foreman, Glenn (17 June 2013). "Sandra Yaxley a paralympic trailblazer". Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  2. ^ "Athlete Search Results". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  3. ^ "Hall of Fame". Swimming Western Australia website. Archived from the original on 1 January 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Paralympics Profile - Sandra Yaxley". International Swimmer. 25: 11. Dec 1988.
  5. ^ "Yaxley, Sandra: Australian Sports Medal". It's an Honour. Retrieved 12 January 2012.