2016 Scholarship Recipient Mary Fisher

WHiPA are delighted to announce that a 2016 WHiPA Lloyd Morrison Scholarship has been awarded to Wellington's Mary Fisher - Paralympic Swimmer, who has been selected to represent New Zealand in Rio 2016 in 5 pool events!

Mary Fisher is a blind swimmer attending her second Paralympic Games in 2016. She grew up in the Hutt Valley and swam for the Upper Hutt Swim Club from the age of nine until completing high school at Heretaunga College. In 2011 Mary went flatting in Newtown and was coached by Luke Clark at Kilbirnie Pool.

Being selected to swim for NZ was the realisation of a decade-long dream to race at a Paralympic Games. Mary swam personal bests in her five events and returned to New Zealand with a gold in world record time, two silvers and a bronze medal.

Since London, Mary has been a gold medallist at the 2014 Para Pan Pacs, 2013 and 2015 IPC swimming world champs and has shared her experiences with many groups. She's currently training with the national para-swimming squad in Auckland. In Rio she will race the 50m, 100m and 400m freestyle, 100m backstroke and 200m individual medley.

Outside of the pool Mary enjoys, playing the mbira (Zimbabwean thumb piano), baking and going to the Wellington Community Choir when she's in town. The support of the Wellington community has been fundamental to her success.

Congratulations Mary!

Image: Photo of Mary with Sir Murray Halberg courtesy of Photosport

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