Sport | |
---|---|
Country | Australia |
Sport | Paralympic swimming |
Disability class | S8 |
Event | s8 100 free |
Club | Flinders Phoenix SC |
Coached by | Chris Wright |
Achievements and titles | |
National finals | 1st in 100free |
Highest world ranking | 1st in 100 free |
Callum Simpson is an Australian Paralympic swimmer. He has been selected to compete at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris, France. [1]
Simpson was born with microdeletion syndrome – a chromosomal abnormality and genetic disorder which causes a severe learning delay and physical flow-on effects – which caused his left and right side not to work in unison, as well as dyspraxia, a brain cyst and cerebral palsy. [2]Simpson attends Matthew Flinders Anglican College, Buderim, Queensland. [3] His parents are Bec and Nigel Simpson, who represented and captained the England rugby sevens team for many years. Callum has a brother Henry, who is a talented water polo player, and is representing Australia in the surf life saving World Championships in 2024. [4]
Simpson was encouraged to take up swimming to strengthen his body and as part of his weekly therapy. Olympian and swim coach Janelle Pallister played an important role in his early swimming development. After strong performances at national swimming championships, he was selected as a member of The Para Flippers Development Squad for 2023. [5] He was selected on the Australian Swim Para Team to compete at Para Swimming European Open Championships in Madeira, Portugal in 2024. [6]
He is an active member of the of Alexandra Headland Surf Lifesaving Club. [2]
He is coached by Olympic swimmer Chris Wright at the Flinders Aquatic Academy in Buderim, Queensland.