WELLINGTON Point teenager Rylee Grier-Stralow has overcome the odds to win 10 medals at a national swimming event in Darwin.
Rylee’s mum Robyn Grier-Stralow said the wins were an amazing achievement for the 13-year-old, who was born three months premature and has an intellectual disability.
Nothing got in her way at the recent competition when she raced to win three gold, four silver and three bronze medals.
Rylee also broke six Australian school records and won both the Queensland multiclass swimmer of the meet in the 13 to 19 year age group and the Australian female multiclass swimmer of the meet.
Rylee has been swimming since she was nine months, but started to compete about four years ago after being inspired by the Paralympics.
Previously a student at Birkdale State School, Rylee now attends Seton College.
Ms Grier-Stralow has a good knowledge of the sport as she had swum competitively.
However, she said Rylee’s wins were remarkable.
“Her goal now is to be a paralympian and represent Australia,” Ms Grier-Stralow said.
Rylee should be increasing her swimming training time, but it is a challenge for her mum who cares for her two adult children and is a single parent.
Rylee’s half-sisters Haylee Austin and Chelsea Austin have a rare genetic disease.
They are both visually impaired and confined to wheelchairs.
“It’s very hard to get funding to increase the hours for care for the other two so that I can take Rylee to training for the extra time,” Ms Grier-Stralow said.
