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Thomas Gallagher (swimmer)

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Thomas Gallagher
Thomas Gallagher with his gold medal on August 29, 2024
Personal information
NationalityAustralian
Born (1999-05-20) 20 May 1999 (age 25)
Cardiff, South Wales
Sport
CountryAustralia
SportParalympic swimming
Surf life saving
Disability classS10
ClubSomerset SC (Gold Coast)
Coached byAshley Callus
Medal record
Men's Paralympic swimming
Representing  Australia
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2024 Paris 50 m freestyle S10
Bronze medal – third place 2020 Tokyo 400 m freestyle S10
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Paris 100 m freestyle S10
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Paris 100 m backstroke S10
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2023 Manchester 50 m freestyle S10
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Manchester 100 m freestyle S10

Thomas "Tom" Gallagher (born 20 May 1999) is an Australian Paralympic swimmer and surf life saver. He represented Australia at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics,[1] winning a bronze medal and the 2024 Paris Paralympics, winning one gold and two bronze medal[2]

Personal

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Gallagher was born and grew up in Perth, Western Australia. He has cerebral palsy and suffers from bouts of pancreatitis.[3] In 2019, he moved to the Gold Coast, Queensland, to further his surf life saving career. As of 2021, he is undertaking a Bachelor of Business at Griffith University and he has been awarded a Full Sporting Blue.[4][5]

Swimming career

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Gallagher is classified as a S10 swimmer.

At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, Gallagher won the bronze medal in the Men's 400 m freestyle S10 and finished fifth in both Men's 50 m freestyle S10 and Men's 100 m freestyle S10.[6] At the 2021 Australian Multi-Class Swimming Championship, he won the gold medal in the Men’s 400m Freestyle Multi-Class in a time of 4:10.17 (997 points), defeating reigning Paralympic champion Brenden Hall.[7]

At the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships, Manchester, England, Gallagher won two medals in sprint freestyle S10 events.

At the 2024 Paris Paralympics, he won the gold medal in the Men's 50 m freestyle S10 and bronze medals in Men's 100 m freestyle S10 and Men's 100 m backstroke S10.[8]

In 2024, he is coached by Ashley Callus at Somerset SC on the Gold Coast.[9]

Surf life saving

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Gallagher took up surf life saving in Perth, Western Australia and represented the City of Perth. In 2019, he moved to the Gold Coast, Queensland, to train under surf life saving coach Michael King and represents Currumbin Vikings. His achievements include: 1st Open and U19 ironman WA 2018, 1st U19 board relay Aussies 2018, 3rd U19 ironman Aussies 2018, 1st Open Short Course Coolangatta Gold 2018, Dean Mercery Memorial Trophy Winning 2019 and SOS Surf Race Winner 2020.

References

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  1. ^ "Paralympics Australia Names Powerful Para-Swimming Team For Tokyo". Paralympics Australia. 16 June 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Paralympics Australia Names Swimming Team For Paris 2024 Games". Paralympics Australia. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  3. ^ "From Near Tragedy In Tokyo To World No.1 | Paralympics Australia". www.paralympic.org.au. 28 July 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Quick, smart: Griffith student athletes dominate Olympic swim squad". InQueensland. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  5. ^ Dobson, Ben (16 November 2023). "Cass makes a big splash at Griffith Sports Blues Awards". news.griffith.edu.au. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Thomas Gallager". Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  7. ^ "No Raining on Lucky's Parade". Swimming Australia. 5 April 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  8. ^ Australian Associated Press (30 August 2024). "Swimmer Tom Gallagher claims Australia's first gold medal at Paralympics". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  9. ^ "2024 Australian Championships - Queenslandresults". Queensland Swimming. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
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