Kara Leo

Kara Leo (born 21 September 1992) is an Australian swimmer. She has been selected to represent Australia at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in the S14 200m freestyle and 100m backstroke swimming events.

Kara Leo
2012 Australian Paralympic Team portrait of Leo
Personal information
Full nameKara Leo
Nationality Australia
Born (1992-09-21) 21 September 1992
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle, backstroke
ClassificationsS14, SB14, SM14
ClubNepean Aquatic

Personal

Leo was born on 21 September 1992 in, New South Wales.[1][2] In 2007, Leo won the NSW Junior Athlete of the Year with a Disability award.[1] In 2010, she earned the NSW Sports Federation's Young Athlete with a Disability award.[3]

Leo attended Caroline Chisholm College.[4] She is involved with the Samuel Morris Foundation, an organisation that helps children cope with near-drowning experiences, whom she represents as a youth ambassador.[1][2]

Swimming

Leo is an S14 classification swimmer.[1][5] She is a member of the Nepean Aquatic Swim Club.[6][7]

Leo started swimming in 1996.[1] She first represented Australia in 2007,[1] where she finished first at the 2007 INAS-FID Swimming World Championships in the 50m backstroke event.[1] All told at the event, she won one bronze medal, four silver medals and five gold medals.[1] She competed at the 2009 Global Games.[6] In 2009, she competed at the All Schools Australian Swimming Championships. In the years 16-19 multi-disability 100-metre freestyle event, she finished in first with a personal best time of 1.06.73, finished third in the 50-metres butterfly event and the 4x50-metres free relay event, and finished fourth in the 200-metres individual medley.[4]

Leo competed at the 2010 Global Games, where she earned nine gold medals, one silver medal and two bronze medals. One of her first-place finishes was in an 800-metre event.[8] She competed at the 2010 International Paralympic Committee Swimming World Championships in the S14 200m freestyle event where she finished second and set a personal best.[2][9] Her 2010 training included seven to "eight water sessions and three gym sessions a week."[2][3]

Leo at the 2012 London Paralympics

Leo competed at the 2011 Australian Short Course Championships.[7] She has been selected to represent Australia at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the S14 200m freestyle and 100m backstroke swimming events.[5][10] She was scheduled to leave for Wales on 10 August for a pre-Paralympics team training camp.[5]

References
  1. "Kara Leo". Australia: Australian Paralympic Committee. 2012. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  2. "Leo edges closer to world time". Penrith Press. Sydney, Australia. 3 September 2010. p. 81. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  3. "Magnificent Leo laps her rivals". Penrith Press. Sydney, Australia. 26 February 2010. p. 83. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  4. Brady, Justin (14 October 2009). "Penrith girls pool talents to take medal haul". Penrith Star. Australia. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  5. "Paralympic swim team revealed". Australian Paralympic Committee. 10 July 2012. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  6. Herbertson, Lisa (18 October 2011). "Swimmer wants to make waves in London - - NEWS LOCAL JUNIOR SPORTS STAR". Penrith Press. Sydney, Australia. p. 3. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  7. Brady, Justin (28 June 2011). "Pooled talent offers bright future". Penrith Star. Australia. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  8. Brady, Justin (26 October 2011). "Aussie swimmers grab golden haul for Penrith". Penrith Star. Australia. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  9. Brady, Justin (10 November 2010). "Wizards really go the distance". Penrith Star. Australia. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  10. "Cowdrey leads Paralympic swim team — ABC Grandstand Sport — ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". Abc.net.au. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
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