Rowan Crothers

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Rowan Crothers
OAM
2016 Australian Paralympic team portrait
Personal information
Full nameRowan Crothers
NicknameMagnet / Magnetbrain
Nationality Australia
Born (1997-10-24) 24 October 1997 (age 26)
Gosford, New South Wales, Australia
Height196 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Weight77 kg (170 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle
ClassificationsS10, SB9, SM10
ClubYeronga Park
CoachKate Sparkes
Medal record
Men's Paralympic swimming
Representing  Australia
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tokyo 50 m freestyle S10
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tokyo 4×100 m freestyle 34 pts
Silver medal – second place 2020 Tokyo 100 m freestyle S10
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2013 Montreal 4×100 m freestyle 34 points
Gold medal – first place 2022 Madeira 50 m freestyle S10
Gold medal – first place 2022 Madeira 100 m freestyle S10
Gold medal – first place 2023 Manchester 50 m freestyle S10
Gold medal – first place 2023 Manchester 100 m freestyle S10
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Montreal 100 m freestyle S9
Bronze medal – third place 2019 London 50 m freestyle S10
Bronze medal – third place 2019 London 100 m freestyle S10
Bronze medal – third place 2019 London 4x100m freestyle 34 points
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2014 Glasgow 100 m freestyle S9

Rowan Crothers (born 24 October 1997) OAM is an Australian freestyle swimmer.[1] He represented Australia at the 2016 Rio Paralympics and the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.[2][3] He won two gold and one silver medals at the Tokyo Paralympics.

Personal life[edit]

Crothers was born 15 weeks prematurely on 24 October 1997 in Gosford on the New South Wales Central Coast[4] and currently lives in Moorooka, Queensland.

Rowan attended Newmarket State School, Kelvin Grove State College and St Laurence's College. He attempted to undertake tertiary studies at Griffith University however he decided he would prefer to not continue at university.[citation needed]

Crothers' prematurity resulted in him developing cerebral palsy due to IVH, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia causing permanent lung scarring. His Cerebral Palsy (spastic diplegia) impacts his coordination and motor control predominantly in his lower body, however his upper body is also affected to a lesser extent.[citation needed] Crothers requires a vehicle modified with hand controls to legally drive and is currently working towards obtaining a full licence. In the pool, CP impacts the effectiveness of his kick and ability to control body positioning. He has worked consistently on perfecting a propulsion style to make the most out of what coordination he has.[citation needed]

Rowan has been a member of the Yeronga Park Swim Club since 2012 where he initially trained under Rick Van Der Zant. He is currently trained by Kate Sparkes. Notable members of his training squad include or have included Ryan Pini, Lorna Tonks and Chelsea Gubecka.[citation needed]

Crothers features in the 2020 documentary No Distinguishing Features which .." follows the stories of six people living with disabilities from across Australia and New Zealand. Six people who were given a strict roadmap for their life the moment they were born. Six people who went on to tear that roadmap to shreds."[5]

Career[edit]

Crothers made his international swimming debut as a 13-year-old at the 2011 Arafura Games where he claimed a bronze medal in the Men's 400 m MC freestyle and broke 4 Australian National Age Records in the 50m, 100 m, 200 m and 400 m freestyle events in the S9 classification. He went on to claim S9 Australian National Age Records in freestyle as a 13, 14, 15 and 16 year old in the 50 m, 100 m, 200 m, and the 400 m freestyle.[citation needed]

At the 2013 Australian Short Course Championships, Crothers broke the men's S9 World Record for the 400 m SC freestyle.[citation needed]

In 2014 at the Australian Swimming Championships, Crothers broke World Records in the S9 100 m freestyle twice, and another in the S9 200 m freestyle. These swims qualified him for the 2014 Australian Commonwealth Games Swim Team and the 2014 Para Pan Pacs Team. Crothers went on to win Gold[6] at the 2014 Commonwealth Games breaking his own World Record[7]

In 2016 Crothers was reclassified from S9 to S10 which was a major adjustment.[8] He went on to compete at the 2016 Rio Paralympics in four events and qualified for the finals in each. He placed fifth in the Men's 4 × 100 m Freestyle (34 points), sixth in Men's 400 m Freestyle S10, fifth in Men's 100 m Freestyle S10 and sixth in Men's 50 m Freestyle S10.[9]

At the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships, he won the bronze medals in the Men's 50 m and 100 m Freestyle S10.[10]

In 2021 Crothers swam at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games winning gold in the 50 m Freestyle S10 with a time of 23.21,[11] and silver in the 100 m Freestyle S10 with a time of 51,37.[12] Crothers won gold in the Men's 4×100 m freestyle 34 pts along with William Martin, Matt Levy and Ben Popham, breaking the current World Record by almost 2 seconds.[13]

Crothers won two gold medals - Men's 50 m Freestyle and Men's 100m Freestyle at the 2022 World Para Swimming Championships, Madeira.[14]

Winning Performances[edit]

International Competition Medals[edit]

2011 Arafura Games inc. Oceanic Paralympic Championships

Bronze - Men's 400 LC Meter Freestyle Multi-Class [15]

2013 IPC Swimming World Championships - Montreal

Gold – Men's 34pt 4 × 100 m freestyle relay [16]

Bronze - S9 Male 100m freestyle [17]

2014 Commonwealth Games

Gold – S9 Male 100m freestyle (WR) [18]

2018 Pan Pacific Para Swimming Championships[19]

Gold – Men's Open 400 LC Metre Freestyle Multi-Class

Gold – Men's Open 100 LC Metre Freestyle Multi-Class

Gold - Men 4x100 LC Metre Freestyle 34 point, S1 - S10 Relay

Silver – Men's Open 50 LC Metre Freestyle Multi-Class

2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games[20]

Gold - Men's 50m Freestyle - S10

Silver - Men's 50m Freestyle - S10

Gold - Men 4x100 LC Metre Freestyle 34 point, S1 - S10 Relay (WR)

National Open Competition Medals[edit]

2012 Australian Open Swimming Championships

Silver - Men 12 & Over 400 LC Metre Freestyle Multi-Class [21]

2013 Australian Open Water Championships

Silver - Men 5K Open Water Multi-Class[22]

2013 Australian Open Swimming Championships

Silver - Male 400 LC Metre Freestyle Multi-Class [23]

Bronze - Male 100 LC Metre Freestyle Multi-Class [24]

2013 Australian Open Short Course Swimming Championships

Gold – Men's Open 400 SC Metre Freestyle Multi-Class (WR)[25][26] [27]

2014 Australian Open Swimming Championships

Gold – Men's 100m freestyle Para Sport S9 (WR)[28][29]

Gold – Men's Open 100 LC Metre Freestyle Multi-Class (WR)[30][31][32][33]

Silver – Men's Open 400 LC Metre Freestyle Multi-Class[34]

Gold – Men's Open 200 LC Metre Freestyle Multi-Class (WR)[35][36][37]

2016 Australian Open Swimming Championships[38]

Silver – Men's Open 400 LC Metre Freestyle Multi-Class

Silver - 4 × 50 m MC freestyle relay

2017 Australian Open Swimming Championships

Bronze - Men's Open 50 LC Metre Freestyle Multi-Class [39]

2019 Australian Open Swimming Championships[40]

Gold - Men's Open 50 LC Metre Freestyle Multi-Class

Gold - Men's Open 100 LC Metre Freestyle Multi-Class

Awards[edit]

  • 2009 Best Novice Athlete - Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association
  • 2009/10 North-West Regional Finalist - Quest Youngstar Award for Sport
  • 2010 Most Improved Junior Athlete - Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association
  • 2010/11 North-West Regional Finalist - Quest Youngstar Award for Sport
  • 2010 Roy Fowler Male Swimmer of the Meet - Queensland AWD Swimming Championships
  • 2011 Best Junior Athlete - Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association
  • 2011 Swimmer of the Meet State Multi-Class Swimming Championships - Queensland Swimming
  • 2011/12 North-West Regional Winner - Quest Youngstar Award for Sport [41]
  • 2012 Swimmer of the Meet State Multi-Class Swimming Championships - Queensland Swimming
  • 2013 RSL Youth Development Program Grant Recipient [42]
  • 2013 Brisbane Swimming Association Swimmer with a Disability for 2012/13 [43]
  • 2014 Brisbane Swimming Association President's Award for 2013/14 (Glen Bigg Trophy)
  • 2014 Junior and Senior Male Athlete of the Year - Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association [44]
  • 2017 - Swimming Australia Paralympic Program Swimmer of the Year.[45]
  • 2022 – Medal of the Order of Australia[46]
  • 2022 - Swimming Australia Paralympic Program Swimmer of the Year[47]
  • 2023 - Swimming Australia Paralympic Program Swimmer of the Year [48]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Rowan Crothers". Swimming Australia Athlete Profile for Rowan Crothers. Archived from the original on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  2. ^ "Swimming Australia Paralympic Squad Announcement". Swimming Australia News. Archived from the original on 13 November 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  3. ^ "Paralympics Australia Names Powerful Para-Swimming Team For Tokyo". Paralympics Australia. 16 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Rowan Crothers". g2014results.thecgf.com. Glasgow 2014. Archived from the original on 7 June 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  5. ^ "No Distinguishing Features". Documentary Australia Foundation.
  6. ^ "Rowan Crothers". Commonwealth Games Australia. 20 June 2020.
  7. ^ "AUSTRALIAN 16-YEAR OLD ROWAN CROTHERS BREAKS S9 100 FREESTYLE WORLD RECORD". SwimSwam. 24 July 2014.
  8. ^ "Rowan Crothers". Paralympics Australia. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  9. ^ "Rowan Crothers". Rio Paralympics Official Results. Rio Paralympics 2016. Archived from the original on 23 October 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  10. ^ "Rowan Crothers". 2019 World Para Swimming Championships Results. 9 September 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  11. ^ "Rowan Crothers Turns The Clock Back To The Mean Machine As He Celebrates Paralympic Gold". Swimming World Magazine. 26 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Rowan Crothers leads strong Australian showing in the pool". The Guardian. 28 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Men's Relay Team Smash World Record to Capture Gold". Swimming Australia.
  14. ^ "Grant Patterson". 2022 World Para Swimming Championships. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  15. ^ "2011 Oceania Paralympic Championships - Swimming Results". Foxsportspulse.com 8th May 2011. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  16. ^ "2013 IPC World Swimming Championship Men's 4x100m Freestyle Relay 34pts - Results" (PDF). IPC. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  17. ^ "2013 IPC World Swimming Championship Men's 100m Freestyle S9 - Results" (PDF). IPC. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  18. ^ "Rowan Crothers". Commonwealth Games Australia. 20 June 2020.
  19. ^ "2018 Pan Pacific Para Swimming Championships Live Results". Swimming Australia.
  20. ^ "IPC 2021 Paralympic Games Medal Report for Rowan Crothers". IPC Website.
  21. ^ "2012 Australian Swimming Championships - Swimming Results" (PDF). Swimming Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  22. ^ "2013 Australian Open Water Swimming Championships - Swimming Results" (PDF). Swimming Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  23. ^ "2013 Australian Swimming Championships - Swimming Results" (PDF). Swimming Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  24. ^ "2013 Australian Swimming Championships - Swimming Results" (PDF). Swimming Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  25. ^ "IPC Short Course World Records". created by IPC Sport Data Management System. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  26. ^ "Update from Rick from the Australian SC Nationals". Ricks Blog, August 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  27. ^ "Coach of the Year: Rick Van Der Zant". Sporting Wheelies Annual Awards, November 2013. Archived from the original on 14 February 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  28. ^ "2014 Australian Swimming Championships - Swimming Results" (PDF). Swimming Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 August 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  29. ^ "IPC Long Course World Records". created by IPC Sport Data Management System. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  30. ^ "2014 Australian Swimming Championships - Swimming Results" (PDF). Swimming Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 August 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  31. ^ "IPC Long Course World Records". created by IPC Sport Data Management System. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  32. ^ "McKeon Commonwealth Games legacy continues". Swimming Australia, 01/04/2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  33. ^ "Freney and Elliott join team for Glasgow". APC News, Swimming Australia, 03/04/2014. Archived from the original on 15 April 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  34. ^ "2014 Australian Swimming Championships - Swimming Results" (PDF). Swimming Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 August 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  35. ^ "2014 Australian Swimming Championships - Swimming Results" (PDF). Swimming Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 August 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  36. ^ "IPC Long Course World Records". created by IPC Sport Data Management System. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  37. ^ "Swim Swam Day 4 at the Australian Swimming Trials". Swim Swam, Braden Keith, April 04th, 2014. 4 April 2014. Archived from the original on 10 July 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  38. ^ "Results of 2016 Australian Swimming Championships". Swimming Australia. Archived from the original (pdf) on 18 April 2018". Australia Swimming. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018.
  39. ^ "2017 Australia Swimming Championships Live Results". Live Results. Australia Swimming.
  40. ^ "2019 Hancock Prospecting Australian Championships 4 – 12 April 2019, Adelaide Full Results" (PDF). Australia Swimming.
  41. ^ "YoungStar winners honoured at Quest's gala awards night". Quest Newspapers June 17, 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  42. ^ "Rowan Crothers documents his journey to Paralympic swimming dream". Leanne Edmistone The Courier-Mail January 14, 2013. Archived from the original on 5 September 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  43. ^ "2012-13 Brisbane Seasonal Award Winners". Brisbane Swimming News, May 2013. Archived from the original on 25 June 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  44. ^ "Cronau wins top honour at state awards". Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association News, 21 November 2014. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  45. ^ "Emily Seebohm and Emma McKeon reign supreme at Swimming's Gala Awards Night". Swimming Australia website. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  46. ^ "Actors, advocates and athletes celebrated in 2022 Australia Day Honours". The New Daily. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  47. ^ Hanson, Ian (28 August 2022). "Mollie O'Callaghan Named Australia's Olympic Program Swimmer Of The Year At Glittering Awards Ceremony in Sydney". Swimming World. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  48. ^ "Dolphin Déjà Vu Ahead Of Paris For O'callaghan And Crothers". Swimming Australia. Retrieved 13 November 2023.

External links[edit]