When Ellie Cole left her room at the Australian Institute of Sport and made her way to the airport for the London 2012 Paralympic Games, she told herself she would return home a gold medallist. Not only did she win gold, she did it four times over, touching the wall first in the women’s 100m backstroke S9, women’s 100m freestyle S9, women’s 4x100m freestyle 34 Points and women’s 4x100m medley 34 Points. She also won bronze medals in the women’s 50m freestyle S9 and women’s 400m freestyle S9.

So naturally, when Ellie returned to the pool for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, she was a hot favourite to win gold. She did not disappoint. Ellie won medals in all six of her events, sharing the title of Australia’s top medallist from the Games alongside Dolphins teammate Lakeisha Patterson. She waited until her final race on the final night of Para-swimming …

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Date of birth
12 December 1991
Sport
Para-swimming
Past Paralympic Games

Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020

Impairment
Physical Impairment – Right above-knee limb loss
How acquired
Amputation to treat sarcoma
Residence
Hornsby, NSW
Occupation
Athlete
Started competing
2003
First competed for Australia
2006
Sport career highlights

Winning a gold medal in the women’s 4x100m medley 34 Points at the London 2012 Paralympic Games

Greatest sporting moments

Australia winning the men’s 4x100m freestyle at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games

Heroes/role models

Natalie Du Toit, Kerry Hoare, Emma Moffatt

Favourite quote
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results - Rita Mae Brown

Disciplines

  • Sport: Para-swimming Discipline: 50m freestyle Classification: S9
  • Sport: Para-swimming Discipline: 100m backstroke Classification: S9
  • Sport: Para-swimming Discipline: 100m freestyle Classification: S9
  • Sport: Para-swimming Discipline: 400m freestyle Classification: S9
  • Sport: Para-swimming Discipline: 4x100m freestyle Classification: S9
  • Sport: Para-swimming Discipline: 4x100m medley Classification: S9

Social Media

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