Teigan Van Roosmalen loves the water. She is a professional swimmer, loves surfing and going to the beach and is also a surf lifesaver. At just 19, she is on her way up in the world of swimming and has a prosperous career ahead.

Teigan won gold and broke the Australian age record in the 100m butterfly at the 2007 Arafura Games in Darwin. She also performed well at the 2007 Telstra Australian Short Course Championships. Teigan was born with Ushers Syndrome, a hereditary disease affecting her hearing, and was the youngest person in the world to receive a cochlear implant. She also has retinitis pigmentosa. Her disability does not cause her any trouble and once gave her the chance to compete at the Deaf Olympics. Teigan also competed at the 2008 World Cup in Manchester and won two bronze medals. Later that year at her first Paralympic Games in Beijing, Teigan made the final in four of her six races and set several personal bests.

A thrill seeker at heart, Teigan loves scary rides at theme parks as well as shopping with friends and spending as much time as she can at the beach – a place that consumes much of her life. Her older brother competed at the Australian Surf Titles and she appeared on NBN promoting surf lifesaving. Even her favourite television show is the beachside drama Home and Away. She has also appeared on the cover of the 2006 Central Coast phone book and been inducted as a sporting hero on the Powerhouse Museum’s Wall of Fame.

Her experience in Beijing was very special for Teigan as she was able to experience many different cultures within the athletes’ village and the Chinese culture outside the village. She would love to compete at another Paralympic Games and is aiming to make the 2012 Australian team.