Rising Sunshine Coast swimmer Callum Simpson in Year 11 at Matthew Flinders Anglican College is heading to Paris as part of the official Australian Paralympic Swim Team, achieving his long-term goal to represent Australia in the pool.
Alongside Callum will be Old Flinderian Katja Dedekind (Flinders Class of 2019), who has also qualified for the team. It will be Katja’s third Paralympics.
What’s more, two other Old Flinderians - kayaker Ally Clarke (Flinders Class of 2017) and cyclist Kristina Clonan (Flinders Class of 2016) - are also competing in Paris at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Callum has a brother Henry, who graduated from Flinders in 2023 and is a talented water polo player. Henry is representing Australia in the surf Life Saving World Championships from 20 August to 8 September while Callum is in Paris.
Callum is part of the College’s Flinders Elite Athlete Program (FEAP), which aims to mentor, inspire and support student athletes to make the most of their academic and sporting lives.
Callum has had his sights set on the Paralympics for many years and swam in his first multi-class swim event at age eight. In Year 5, at his first National School Championships, Callum won two gold medals and three silver medals.
Callum said, “It feels pretty good to be selected, because it’s my childhood dream and it’s all come together. But I know my job isn’t done until after the Games.
“Training in preparation will mean more intensity and more hard work so I can hopefully win a podium finish.”
Mum, Rebecca Simpson, said, “Matthew Flinders Anglican College has been simply amazing and so influential in our families lives.
“Callum has been at Flinders since Prep, and also went to the Flinders Early Learning Centre,” Rebecca said.
“So many teachers, friends, coaches and mentors have been incredible to Cal and we will be forever grateful. Cal is certainly a 'home grown' Flinders Paralympian and is lucky and proud to swim and have Flinders Phoenix coach Christopher Wright at the Flinders Aquatic Centre.”
Also supporting Callum is Ms Lauren Nourse, the Director of the FEAP.
Ms Nourse said, “Callum is a vibrant and valued member of the Flinders community and our FEAP. It’s wonderful to see his hard work pay off with so many exceptional results.
“Callum set himself clear goals to achieve, including representing Australia, and we are so thrilled he has been selected to compete in the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games."
To learn more about Callum, see his FEAP profile article in 2022, here: https://www.mfac.edu.au/feap-athlete-profiles-callum-simpson-swimming/
And a feature profile in 2018 when Callum was in Year 5 at Flinders: https://www.mfac.edu.au/swim-therapy-for-callum-helps-triumph
