Shelby Newkirk

Started: She began Para swimming in 2011. As a child she had played football, volleyball, and basketball, and also danced and did gymnastics. "I don't sit still very well, so I've always been a very active person." In 2016 she began training with the Saskatoon Lasers Swim Club, and was invited to join the national Para swimming team the following year. (globalnews.ca, 05 Dec 2016) Reason: Her mother heard about a Para swimming programme in Winnipeg, MB, Canada, close to where they lived at the time, and after her first try she fell in love with being in the pool. "It was so much fun. I loved the competitiveness, so getting to bring that out in the pool was nice. Coming on deck and seeing that everybody was like me, they had crutches or they had some type of physical impairment, it was like finally I wasn't the only one. It was the first thing I could do that felt like it was before." (thestarphoenix.com, 03 May 2019; globalnews.ca, 05 Dec 2016) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (paralympic.ca, 27 Jun 2023; news.usask.ca, 13 Jul 2022) Awards: She was named Swimming Canada's 2018 Female Para Swimmer of the Year. She also won the award in 2017. (swimming.ca, 05 Apr 2019; Facebook profile, 13 Dec 2018) She was named 2018 Female Athlete of the Year in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada, at the Saskatchewan Sports Awards ceremony. (thestarphoenix.com, 03 May 2019) She was named the 2016 Para Swimmer of the Year by Swim Manitoba in Canada. (swimmanitoba.mb.ca, 2016) In 2016 she received an Order of Excellence Bronze Medallion from Sport Manitoba. (swimmanitoba.mb.ca, 2016) Additional Info: STUDIES She studied elementary education at university. "I've always wanted to help kids, especially in the school system. I don't know if I will work full-time in a classroom, or if I will do more consulting and try to get schools to increase accessibility, especially with phys-ed programmes and increasing Para sport awareness. I want to find ways to make schools a little bit more accessible for kids, and provide kids with the help they need. When I was first diagnosed I was pretty unsure of myself and what my abilities were and I just think, [what might have happened] if I'd had somebody that could have helped facilitate some of those adaptability things and find out about Para sport." (news.usask.ca, 13 Sep 2019; thestarphoenix.com, 03 May 2019; swimming.ca, 13 Dec 2018) BUSINESS OWNER She runs her own business called Crafty Prairie Girl, which sells custom-made crochet items. She began crocheting as a way for her to relax before competitions. "One of my first big swim meets was in Minnesota. I sat there on the pool deck crocheting away. I got quite a few strange looks." She has another business called Accessible Life that sells custom-made products for people with an impairment. "I make ergonomic crochet hook handles. My goal is to make products so that people can live a more independent life." (Facebook profile, 09 Sep 2023; cjme.com, 20 Jul 2023; ckom.com, 25 Jul 2022; swimming.ca, 13 Dec 2018) COACHING She has been a coach at Saskatoon Lasers Swim Club in Canada. (cjme.com, 20 Jul 2023; csc-sask.ca, 10 Jul 2020)

Sporting Relatives: Her mother played basketball for the University of Saskatchewan in Canada. Her younger brother Cole has played basketball at junior provincial level in Canada. (swimming.ca, 05 Apr 2019; wcsg2015.gems.pro, 15 Aug 2015; 2017canadagames.ca, 2015)