Melissa Carlton

Melissa Paula Carlton, OAM[1] (born 8 May 1978) is a South African-born Australian swimmer. Born with no right leg and short fingers on her left hand, she won gold, silver and bronze medals for Australia at both the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Paralympics.

Melissa Carlton
Personal information
Full nameMelissa Paula Carlton
Nationality Australia
Born8 May 1978 (1978-05-08) (age 42)
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Medal record
Swimming
Commonwealth Games
1994 Victoria 100 m breaststroke
Paralympic Games
1996 AtlantaWomen's 400 m Freestyle S9
1996 AtlantaWomen's 4x100 m Freestyle S7–10
1996 AtlantaWomen's 100 m Freestyle S9
1996 AtlantaWomen's 100 m Butterfly S9
2000 SydneyWomen's 100 m Freestyle S9
2000 SydneyWomen's 400 m Freestyle S9
1996 AtlantaWomen's 100 m Backstroke S9
2000 SydneyWomen's 4x100 m Freestyle 34 pts
2000 SydneyWomen's 4x100 m Medley 34 pts
IPC Swimming World Championships
1998 ChristchurchWomen's 4 x 100m Freestyle Open
1998 ChristchurchWomen's 100 m Freestyle S9

Personal

Carlton was born in the South African city of Pietermaritzburg on 8 May 1978.[2][3] She moved with her family to Australia in 1986; they first settled in the Victorian town of Beechworth, where Carlton competed in local school swimming competitions.[4] In 1990 they moved to the Hobart suburb of Glenorchy.[4] Carlton then joined the City of Glenorchy Swimming Club (now known as the Hobart Aquatic Club), where she met Chris Wedd, who would be her coach throughout her Paralympic career.[2][5]

Competitive swimming
Australian swimmer Melissa Carlton before the start of a race at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics

In 1991, Carlton won a gold medal in the 8 km event at the Tasmanian outdoor championships for able-bodied swimmers.[6] She won a gold medal at the 1994 Victoria Commonwealth Games in Canada in the 100 m breaststroke.[7] In 1994, she had an Australian Institute of Sport scholarship in swimming.[8]

At the 1996 Atlanta Games, she won two gold medals in the Women's 400 m Freestyle S9 and Women's 4x100 m Freestyle S7–10 events, for which she received a Medal of the Order of Australia,[1] two silver medals in the Women's 100 m Butterfly S9 and Women's 100 m Freestyle S9 events, and a bronze medal in the Women's 100 m Backstroke S9 event.[9] At the 2000 Sydney Games, she won two silver medals in the Women's 400 m Freestyle S9 and Women's 100 m Freestyle S9 events and two bronze medals in the Women's 4x100 m Freestyle 34 pts and Women's 4x100 m Medley 34 pts events.[9]

Administration

Carlton has been involved with sports administration, holding several positions in Tasmania including Programs and Marketing Coordinator for the Hobart Aquatic Centre and Executive Officer of the Tasmanian Paralympic Committee.[10][11] She has been the Manager of Launceston Aquatic since 2008.[10]

Recognition

In 1996, Carlton was named the Tasmanian Institute of Sport female athlete of the year, Tasmanian Sportswoman of the Year, and Hobart City Council Young Citizen of the Year.[6] In 2000, she received an Australian Sports Medal.[12] In 2001, she received the Tasmanian Athlete with a Disability of the Year award.[11] She was added to the Tasmanian Sporting Hall of Fame in 2005.[6] In 2009, she was noted as one of 50 Tasmanians of influence by The Examiner.[10]

References
  1. "Carlton, Melissa Paula, OAM". It's an Honour. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  2. Carlton, Melissa. "Biography". Archived from the original on 2 October 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  3. "Athlete's Profile". Australian Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 5 December 2000. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  4. Montgomery, Bruce (2 October 2000). "Tasmanian icon to go out on high note". The Australian. p. 106.
  5. "Tears of joy from a champ Melissa finds adversity has a silver lining". The Hobart Mercury. 23 October 2000. p. 40.
  6. "Tasmanian Sporting Hall of Fame: Honour Role 2011" (PDF). Sport and Recreation Tasmania. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  7. Fox, Norman (21 August 1994). "Pickering shows mettle". The Independent. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  8. Nihil, G. (2006). Australian Institute of Sport : celebrating excellence. Focus Publishing. p. 106. ISBN 1-921156-16-3.
  9. Results for melissa carlton from the International Paralympic Committee (archived), retrieved 16 January 2012.
  10. "Launceston Aquatic Manager and Paralympic Champion – Melissa Carlton". Eryl Morgan Publications. May 2009. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  11. "Carlton, Melissa". The Australian Women's Register. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  12. "Carlton, Melissa Paula: Australian Sports Medal". It's an Honour. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
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