Tracy Barrell


Tracy Lee Barrell, OAM is a triple congenital amputee Paralympic swimmer from Australia. She won two gold medals at the 1992 Barcelona Games. She is a strong advocate for people with disabilities and an indigenous Australian.

Personal

Barrell was born without legs and with only one arm. Barrell stated that doctors said her disability was due to genetic mutation from an anti morning sickness pill that mother Terri had taken. Barrell sat on a skateboard and used her one arm for her mobility as a child. She decided not to use prosthetic legs. She attended St Patrick's College, Sutherland in Sydney. She has two sons – Bryce and Oscar.

Sporting career

In 1989, at the age of 14, her mother enrolled her with the NSW Amputee Sporting Association and she commenced her swimming career. She was coached by Mick Maroney. Her first major competition was the NSW State Games held at Narrabeen Sports Centre where she won gold in four swimming events and two athletics throwing events. Her results led her to being award the Athlete of the Games. She was classified as a S4 swimmer. She won two gold medals at the 1992 Barcelona Games in the Women's 4x50 m Freestyle S1-6 event and the Women's 50 m Butterfly S3-4 event and finished fourth in two individual events. Barrell has indigenous heritage. She retired in 1994 due to injury and surgery to her only arm. In 2008, she represented Australia at the Shanghai Women's Sitting Volleyball Tournament.

Advocacy

Since her retirement from sport, she has been a strong advocate for opportunities for people with a disability. Between 2008 and 2011, she was an ambassador for Don't DIS my ABILITY, a program that provides inspirational role models for people with disabilities. In 2013, she was appointed as a Living Life My Way Ambassadors and Champions by the New South Wales Government.
In 2011, she was denied access to all rides at Movie World Studios due to a change in their safety policy. In previous visits, she was able to access all the rides.