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Life's going swimmingly

Karley Moran of Paterson was our December 2013 cover girl. Here the Year 11 student at St Mary’s Campus, All Saints College, Maitland, updates us on some recent milestone achievements.

Karley Moran December 02, 2014

Swimming is a big part of my life. I attend squad training at our local Paterson pool during the week and on Saturday mornings I train at Dungog pool with my brothers, sister and friends. I started competing in primary school and gained my first medal in Year 6 at St Joseph's, East Maitland. The support from my school and teachers was amazing.

Three years ago, I began Special Olympics training at Kurri Kurri pool. This opened another door, to more than I ever expected. It included not just swimming, but a social network of new friends. During this time I have travelled north, south, east and west competing in different towns and states.

Competing in the Junior National Games in Newcastle in 2012, I gained gold, silver and bronze medals. In October 2014 I competed in the National Games in Melbourne and was placed second, third, fourth and fifth. The world titles will be held in Los Angeles in 2015 and I hope to be there!

My friend, Hayley Lowe, attends St Paul's at Booragul. We swim in the same races and we compete together, not against each other, which I love. We also play netball together in Newcastle.

At St Mary's end-of-year assembly, I was presented with the school community achievement award donated by the Lions Club of East Maitland. I was so thrilled – what an honour!

The most exciting part of my swimming was going on the plane with the NSW team to Melbourne and having all my family – Mum, Dad, Tim, Nick and Sarah – come to watch me swim. I am a lucky young girl!

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