Port Lincoln’s Jade Calverley wins gold and silver in World Dwarf Games.
Extract from Brad Crouch, Sunday Mail (SA) August 26, 2017
There’s a new super-fish in the pool after local teenager Jade Calverley conquered the world with six gold medals and one silver in Canada at the 7th World Dwarf Games August 2017.
Jade’s extraordinary haul included four individual and two team golds in swimming, and an unexpected bonus silver medal in soccer in the team that was runner-up to England 1-0.
“It was an awesome experience — I am still running on adrenaline and getting hugs and congratulations from people,” she said.
Jade, 18, started swimming at age four for therapeutic reasons. She later joined the West Coast Swimming Club for socialisation as much as training, but soon liked the thrill of competition.
Golden girl ... Jade Calverley pool side. Picture: Robert Lang Photography
The 123cm student and childcare worker was the only South Australian in the Australian team for the games in Guelph, Ontario Canada. At a February training camp on the Gold Coast she knew just three other athletes, but quickly bonded with the team of 29.
Jade went on to win the 50m and 100m breaststroke, and 200m medley, and was in the relay teams that won the 4x25m and 4x50m freestyle. She was asked to join the women’s soccer team in the training camp and quickly agreed when she discovered they needed an extra player to compete.
Jade is studying for a Bachelor of Disability and Developmental Education with an aim of helping children with disabilities into sport. She is planning to compete at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics and the 2021 World Dwarf Games – and will be cheering on fellow Port Lincoln champ Kyle Chalmers in his bid to repeat his Rio Olympics 100m freestyle gold in the Tokyo Olympics.