Joanne Mucz

Joanne Mucz (née Vergara; born March 6, 1972) is a Canadian retired Paralympic medalist in swimming. She won eight medals at the Paralmypic Games with five of them at the 1992 Summer Paralympics. After her retirement in 1996, Mucz was named into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame and the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 2006.

Joanne Mucz
Personal information
Full nameJoanne Mucz Vergara
Born (1972-03-06) March 6, 1972
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Sport
SportSwimming
ClassificationsA4, S9
Medal record
Women's Swimming
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place1988 Seoul400 m freestyle A4
Silver medal – second place1988 Seoul100 m backstroke A4
Silver medal – second place1988 Seoul100 m freestyle A4
Gold medal – first place1992 Barcelona100 m breaststroke SB8
Gold medal – first place1992 Barcelona100 m butterfly S9
Gold medal – first place1992 Barcelona100 m freestyle S9
Gold medal – first place1992 Barcelona200 m medley SM9
Gold medal – first place1992 Barcelona400 m freestyle S9

Early life and education

Joanne Mucz was born on March 6, 1972, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She started swimming as a child and became a member of the Manta Swim Club in Winnipeg at the age of nine.[1]

Career

At North American events, Mucz won five events at the 1985 nationals held by the United States Amputee Athletic Association. During her races, Mucz broke five world records ranging from the 100 metres backstroke to the 200 metres individual medley.[2] That year at the 1985 Canada Games for the Physically Disabled, Mucz made five Canadian records.[3] At that event, Mucz also remade world records in the 100 metres freestyle, 100 metres butterfly and the 200 metres individual medley.[4]

Mucz won six medals at both the 1986 World Championships for the Disabled and the 1987 International Games for the Disabled. She repeated her medal performance at the World Championships for the Disabled in 1990 and the 1991 Stoke-Mandeville Wheelchair Games.[5]

Outside of her swimming career, Mucz was a part of the Western Canada Summer Games in 1995 as a special guest captain[5] and a manager at the 1999 Pan American Games.[6]

Paralympics

Alternatively, Mucz's first Paralympic Games was at the 1984 Summer Paralympics where she did not medal.[7] Her following Paralympic Games saw her broke world records at the 1988 Summer Paralympics and 1992 Summer Paralympics while winning her final medals. Mucz retired in 1992.[1]

Awards and honours

Mucz was inducted into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame in 1996,[6] and the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 2006.[5] In 2012, Mucz was awarded with the Circle of Excellence by Swimming Canada.[8]

Personal life

Mucz was married in 2001 and currently has three kids.[1]

References
  1. "Joanne (Mucz) Vergara". Swimming Canada. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  2. Dawkins, Glen (June 27, 1985). "World records take pounding". The Winnipeg Sun. p. 33.
  3. "Disabled, but able". The Province. News Services. October 1, 1985. p. 6.
  4. Kessleman, Shelley (January 2, 1986). "Mucz doesn't let handicap get in way". The Winnipeg Sun. p. 44.
  5. "Honoured Members Database". Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  6. "Previous Hall of Fame Inductees". Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  7. "Joanna Vergara". Canadian Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  8. "Circle of Excellence". Swimming Canada. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
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