Col Pearse

Col Pearse (born 10 July 2003) is an Australian Paralympic swimmer. At the 2020 Summer Paralympics, he won the bronze medal in the 100 m butterfly S10.[1]

Col Pearse
Personal information
NationalityAustralian
Born (2003-07-10) 10 July 2003
Echuca, Victoria
Height183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight80 kg (176 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
ClassificationsS10, SB9, SM10
ClubKew Swimming Club
CoachJol Fink
Medal record
Men's Paralympic swimming
Representing  Australia
Paralympic Games
Bronze medal – third place2020 Tokyo100 m butterfly S10
World Para Swimming Championships
Silver medal – second place2022 Madeira200 m medley SM10
Silver medal – second place2022 Madeira100 m butterfly S10
Silver medal – second place2023 Manchester200 m medley SM10
Bronze medal – third place2019 London100 m butterfly S10
Bronze medal – third place2023 Manchester100 m butterfly S10
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place2022 Birmingham100 m butterfly S10

Personal life

Pearse was born on 10 July 2003 in Echuca, Victoria. At the age of two, his right foot was amputated from below the ankle following a collision with a ride-on lawnmower.[2][3] He still has his heel bone intact so he can walk on his stump, though his right side is about 5 cm shorter than his left so he has a pronounced limp.[3] Pearse grew up in Echuca and, in 2018, he relocated to train with a specialist coach at the H2O Swimming Club.[4] In 2018, he was attending St Michael's Grammar School in Melbourne.[4]

In 2021, Pearse was awarded a Tier 2 Scholarship within the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship & Mentoring Program.[5]

Career

Besides swimming, Pearse played junior Australian Rules football for the Lockington Cats under-12s, wearing a blue-and-white hooped prosthetic foot inspired by his beloved Geelong Football Club.[3] In late 2016, he was selected as a member of the Australian Paralympic Development Squad. In 2019, he was selected on his first Australian swim team.[6] At the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships in London, he won the bronze medal in the men's 100 m butterfly S10 and sixth in the men's 100 m backstroke S10 and men's 200 m individual medley SM10.[7]

At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, Pearse won the bronze medal in the men's 100 metre butterfly S10 with a time of 57:66, 3 seconds slower than the gold medal winner Maksym Krypak of Ukraine who set a world record. Pearce competed in the men's 200 m individual medley SM10 and made the final where he finished fourth. He also made the final of the men's 100 m backstroke S10 where he finished eighth.[8]

At the 2022 World Para Swimming Championships in Madeira, Pearse won two silver medals - men's 100 m butterfly S10 and Mmn's 200 m individual medley SM10.[9]

At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Pearse won the gold medal in the men's 100 m butterfly S10.[10]

Recognition
  • 2022 - Victorian Institute of Sport Para Athlete of the Year[11]

References
  1. "Paralympics Australia Names Powerful Para-Swimming Team For Tokyo". Paralympics Australia. 16 June 2021. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  2. "Col Pearse". International Paralympic Committee website. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  3. Tuckerman, Raelee (7 June 2014). "Inspiring youngster turns adversity into sporting success". Bendigo Advertiser. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  4. "'This is my sport' – St Michael's future Paralympian". St Michael Grammar School website. 11 May 2018. Archived from the original on 12 March 2019. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  5. "Col Pearse Swimming". Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  6. Johnston, Andrew (26 April 2019). "Col conquers another hurdle". Rivernia Herald. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  7. "Col Pearse". 2019 World Para Swimming Championships Results. Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  8. "Col Pearse". Tokyo Paralympics Official Results. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  9. "Grant Patterson". 2022 World Para Swimming Championships. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  10. "Cole, Patterson And Levy Amongst Stars Of The Pool Ready To Splash And Dash In Birmingham". Commonwealth Games Australia. 5 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  11. "Montag Shines Bright At The VIS Award Of Excellence". Victorian Institute of Sport. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
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