Cindy-Lu Bailey

Cindy-Lu Bailey OAM, also known as Cindy-Lu Fitzpatrick, (born 8 March 1965) is a former Australian deaf swimmer who has represented Australia in both Commonwealth Games and in Deaflympics.[1] She is considered to be the most decorated woman in Deaflympics history with a record haul of 29 medals, which is the highest among women in Deaflympics.[2] Bailey is also one of the greatest swimmers of Australia in history.[3][4][5]

Cindy-Lu Bailey
Personal information
National team Australia
Born (1965-03-08) 8 March 1965
Liverpool, Australia
Sport
Country Australia
SportSwimming
ClubCabramatta NSW
Medal record
Women's swimming
Representing  Australia
World Deaf Swimming Championships
1995 Bugge100m breaststroke
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Deaflympics 19 5 5
Deaflympics
Koln 1981 100m breaststroke
Koln 1981 200m breaststroke
Los Angeles 1985 100m breaststroke
Los Angeles 1985 200m breaststroke
Los Angeles 1985 200m freestyle
Los Angeles 1985 200m individual medley
Los Angeles 1985 400m individual medley
Christchurch 1989 100m breaststroke
Christchurch 1989 200m breaststroke
Christchurch 1989 200m freestyle
Christchurch 1989 200m individual medley
Christchurch 1989 400m freestyle
Christchurch 1989 4 × 100m medley relay
Christchurch 1989 800m freestyle
Sofia 1993 100m freestyle
Sofia 1993 200m freestyle
Copenhagen 1997 100m breaststroke
Copenhagen 1997 200m breaststroke
Copenhagen 1997 4 × 100m medley relay
Koln 1981 400m freestyle
Koln 1981 4 × 100m freestyle relay
Koln 1981 4 × 100m medley relay
Christchurch 1989 400m individual medley
Copenhagen 1997 200m individual medley
Bucharest 1977 4 × 100m medley relay
Koln 1981 200m freestyle
Christchurch 1989 4 × 100m freestyle relay
Christchurch 1989 50m freestyle
Copenhagen 1997 4 × 100m freestyle relay

Her record haul of 29 medals is also the third most by a Deaflympic athlete (among men and women) just behind Terence Parkin's haul of 33 medals and Reed Gershwind's haul of 30 medals.[6] Her medal tally of 29, is also the highest medal count for Australia in Deaflympics history.[7]

Career

As a deaf swimmer, Bailey wasn't able to hear the starter gun despite her success at the Deaflympics.

She made her Deaflympics debut at the age of just 12 during the 1977 Summer Deaflympics where she also managed to win a bronze medal.[8][9]

Bailey has also claimed national titles for Australia in the 100 m and 200 m breaststroke in 1980s, when she was just 16 years old.[10]

She then represented the national team in the Commonwealth Games in 1982 and in 1986. She has also participated at the Pan Pacific Games.[11] In 1982, she was ranked within the top 16 on the Speedo World Rankings list.

Bailey was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 1985 for her services towards the sport and for her dedication despite having deafness.[12]

Bailey has competed at the Deaflympics on 6 occasions (1977, 1981, 1985, 1989, 1993 and 1997) and finished her medal hunt with 19 gold, 5 silver and 5 bronze medals.

In 2002, she became the only woman to be inducted into the New South Wales (NSW) Hall of Champions.[13]

At the 2005 Summer Deaflympics held in Melbourne, she was given the honour of lighting cauldron (flame bearer). In fact became the only woman to be given such an opportunity in Deaflympic history. Baliley was also a torchbearer during the 2000 Summer Olympics.

In 2013, she voted as one of Australia's Top 100 sportswomen of all time.

Post swimming career

Cindy-Lu Bailey married Rodney, an Australian surfer. They have two children, Tara and Lily.

At present, she works at the University of Newcastle as Auslan Professor as well as she serves as the Technical Director of swimming for the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf.

  • "One of the best things about being a deaf sportsperson is travelling the world and racing with elite deaf athletes"
  • "Be the best you can.Don't give up." This was mentioned by Bailey towards the Deaf sportspeople after learning from her experiences.

Awards
  • 1999: Sports deaf sports woman of the Year Finalist
  • 2001: Medal of honour winner

References
  1. "Cindy-Lu Fitzpatrick | Sport for Women". sportforwomen.com.au. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  2. "Most medals in Deaflympics among men and women". www.deaflympics.com. Archived from the original on 20 July 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  3. "Inspirational Cindy-Lu Bailey OAM | Deaf Children Australia". deafchildrenaustralia.org.au. Archived from the original on 22 March 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  4. "Cindy-Lu Bailey | Deaflympics". www.deaflympics.com. Archived from the original on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  5. "Deaflympics 2017 Samsun". deaflympics2017.org (in Turkish). Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  6. "Deaflympics record holders". www.deaflympics.com. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  7. "Deaflympics 2017 Samsun". deaflympics2017.org (in Turkish). Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  8. http://www.vicdeaf.com.au/files/editor_upload/File/News/Vote%20for%20Cindy-Lu.pdf
  9. "Games | Deaflympics 1977 Swimming". www.deaflympics.com. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  10. "South West Voice - It's all happening in the library". South West Voice. 13 November 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  11. "Two of us - Sport - www.theage.com.au". www.theage.com.au. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  12. "Cindy-Lu Fitzpatrick". Australian Honours Search Facility, Dept of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  13. "Golden sporting moments - British Deaf Association". British Deaf Association. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
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