'We tend to think they'll never go far in life': Aussie swimmer Col Pearse wins silver, delivers powerful message

PARIS: Col Pearse delivered a powerful swim to snare silver at the Paralympic Games, then climbed out of the pool and delivered a powerful message.

"I think for every Australian back home living with a disability, coming from the middle of nowhere in Australia, we tend to think they'll never go far in life," said the 21-year-old from the country Victorian town of Echuca, choking back tears.

"And I think that swim there, it really shows it doesn't matter where you come from or who you are, if you've got a dream it's achievable."

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Four years ago, when Melbourne went into lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Pearse moved back to Echuca and his mum set up what was dubbed the "Pearse Aquatic Centre".

Brushing away yabbies, ducks, fish and leeches, the tenacious youngster completed lap after lap of the family's murky farm dam.

At the Paris La Defense Arena on Sunday morning (AEST), he was gliding through far clearer water on his way to winning silver in the men's 200m individual medley SM10.

Italian Stefano Raimondi claimed gold in 2:10.24, Pearse took silver in 2:12.79 and Ukraine's Ihor Nimchenko secured bronze in 2:13.73.

"Even to young Aussie kids without a disability," Pearse added, "be patient, love who you are, accept who you are, and good things will come your way."

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Pearse had his right foot amputated after a drastic encounter with a ride-on lawn mower when he was only two years old.

His parents thought he was playing inside, but he'd climbed on a chair, found his way through a security door and popped out.

His dad, riding the lawn mower, veered around a corner and sliced open his right foot.

"I've worked my arse off to get here," Pearse said after picking up silver.

"It's taken me seven years to get to this position, and just finishing and seeing second on the wall I just knew, looking straight away at Mum and Ashleigh, my sister, it had all paid off.

"I moved away from home at 14 to pursue this goal of making the Paralympics, so to be able to walk away with some silverware just means the world."

Earlier at the Games, Pearse was left shattered when he finished fourth in the 100m butterfly S10.

When he touched the wall to clinch silver in the 200m individual medley, his mum and sister were delirious.

"Amazing," said Pearse's mum in the stands.

"My heart is racing, I'm shaking, I can't hear, I've got a sore throat."

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