Siobhan Paton

Siobhan Paton

Siobhan Paton at the 2000 Paralympics
Personal information
Full name	Siobhan Bethany Paton
Nationality	Australia
Born	(1983-08-28) 28 August 1983 (age 41)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly
Club	Telopea Swim Club (Joined: 1998)
Medal record Swimming (S14) Representing Australia Event 1st 2nd 3rd Paralympic Games 6 0 0 Total 6 0 0 Paralympic Games 2000 Sydney 50m freestyle 2000 Sydney 200m freestyle 2000 Sydney 50m backstroke 2000 Sydney 50m butterfly 2000 Sydney 100m freestyle 2000 Sydney 200m individual medley IPC Swimming World Championships 1998 Christchurch 200 m Individual medley SM14 1998 Christchurch 50 m Butterfly S14 1998 Christchurch 50 m Backstroke S14 1998 Christchurch 4 x 100 m Freestyle S14 1998 Christchurch 4 x 50 m Medley S14 1998 Christchurch 200 m Freestyle S14 1998 Christchurch 50 m Freestyle S14

Siobhan Bethany Paton, OAM (born 28 August 1983) is an Australian Paralympic swimmer who was born in Sydney. Paton has had an intellectual disability from birth which was a consequence a lack of oxygen.^[1] Paton decided to become a swimmer after finding out she has a connective tissue disorder and that swimming would assist in the strengthening of her joints.^[1] Siobhan initially began competing with non-disabled athletes and only in 1997 did she compete in a competition for athletes with disabilities, where she won seven gold medals and one silver medal.^[1] As of 2004, she holds thirteen world records in her disability class of S14.

Paton represented Australia at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, where she won six gold medals, for which she received a Medal of the Order of Australia, and set world records on nine occasions in the process. In recognition of her achievement, the Australian Paralympic Committee named her "Paralympian of the Year", and she was honoured on a postage stamp. She was also awarded an Australian Sports Medal before the 2000 games. In 2013, she was inducted into the ACT Sport Hall of Fame.