Sydney’s Michael Auprince started his international swimming career with two gold and one bronze medal at the 2009 Can/Am Meet in Canada and now he is hoping to improve on his form at the 2010 IPC Swimming World Championships in Eindhoven.

Michael took up swimming as a form of therapy after he had his left leg amputated. Born without left leg muscles and after years of wearing a supportive prosthesis, at 10 years of age, Michael and his parents made the decision to have his left leg amputated.

Since then, Michael has taken to training up to 11 times a week in an effort to make the Australian team that will travel to London for the 2012 Paralympic Games.

As well as swimming, Michael is a keen wheelchair basketballer and looks to Canadian dual-Paralympic gold medallist Patrick Anderson for inspiration in his own sporting career.

With his ultimate goal of winning gold in world record time in London, Michael would like to be remembered for his complete dedication to swimming and credits his parents with instilling him with a never-say-die attitude.

A lover of all things science fiction, Michael also plays the saxophone and loves eating home-made pizza.