Tuesday, February 16, 2010

16 February: Theresa Goh (b. 1987)

[Visual description: A photograph of swimmer Theresa Goh, wearing a black competition suit and swimcap, sitting in a wheelchair, smiling]

"I'm fine with it. I [wouldn't] be swimming or where I am today if I weren't disabled."
--Theresa Goh

A sports birthday today--and a summer sport, in case you've had quite enough snow and ice by now, on TV or out the window (or both).

Singapore's Theresa Goh Rui Si was born on this date in 1987. She was premature, and had spina bifida that required surgery in her first months. Goh has always used a wheelchair. At age 5, she started swimming, and by age 12 she was swimming in meets. Since her teens, she's been a world-class swimmer in Paralympic events. She won in four different events at the Danish Open in 2007; at the Paralympics in Beijing the next year, she competed in four events and was her team's flagbearer. This past December, she earned a gold medal at the IWAS World Wheelchair & Amputee Games in India. She's planning to train for the 2012 Paralympics in London.

Goh turns 23 today.

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