ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY REPORT:
Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
24 Jul 2012
In March this year, 17-year-old Reagan Wickens swam the race of his life. His effort paid off and clocking up one of the five best times worldwide, he won a spot on the Australian Paralympic Team. But selection of the Year 12 student at St Patrick's College Sutherland had to remain a secret and it wasn't until this month his achievements finally became public.
"My three brothers and my parents knew but no one else was allowed to be told until this month when the Paralympic Swimming team for London was finally announced," he says.
Typically modest and low key not only about being selected for the Paralympics this year but at being picked to join the target squad in training for the Paralympics in Rio in 2016, Reagan insists keeping it a secret wasn't "too difficult."
But for his proud mother, Lisa and the rest of his immediate family it was a different story.
"We are just so proud of him and being a mother, I couldn't wait to tell the world," she says.
Reagan and the rest of Australia's 35-member Paralympic Swimming team head for Cardiff, Wales on 10 August. They will spend the next two and a half weeks at training camp there before heading for London on 27 August and the Opening Ceremony of London's Paralympics 2012 two days later.
Since March when Reagan was first selected, his three older brothers and his parents have had their flights to London and accommodation booked and will be in the stands to see him compete and hopefully cheering him on to victory.
Back home in Australia, the staff and entire student body at St Patrick's College will also be barracking for Reagan and glued to their television sets as each race unfolds.
"They've told me I have to bring home the gold," Reagan says with a grin.
St Pat's first-ever Paralympian, Reagan will represent Australia in his favourite event, the 400 metres freestyle, Reagan will also compete in the 50 m butterfly, 50 m freestyle, 200 m individual medley, 100 m backstroke and 100 m freestyle.
Despite his heavy training regime which involves getting up at 4.30 am to swim two hours each morning and a further two hours each night, Reagan is managing to find the time to study for his HSC. This means that when he reaches Cardiff and then London, his schedule will not only include four or more hours of training in the pool but several hours of supervised study.
"Reagan is very focussed and committed to whatever he takes on," Lisa says.
Born with achrondraplasia, a bone growth disorder that causes dwarfism, Reagan first made waves at the 2009 Australian Paralympic Youth Games, taking home five medals including a gold in the 100m breastroke. He followed that up last year when he was a member of Australia's international team at the 2011 Parapan Games in Canada, and won 2 gold and 5 silver medals.
With an attitude that any and everything is possible, and inspired by his eldest brother,an elite athlete and swimmer, Reagan was just 8 years old when he began competing. A pupil at St Catherine's Laboure Primary, Gymea he was soon winning medals at the NSW Catholic Inter-diocesan Carnival and at the state's Primary Schools Sports Association Championships.
His passion for swimming has never waned and thanks to his dedication, hard work and talent, Reagan has continued through secondary school where he proved again and again he is a champion be it in the pool or out of it.
Reagan's all time sports hero is Geoff Huegill, the comeback king of swimming who eight years after breaking records and winning medals, competed at the Commonwealth Games and won gold.
"He's really something," he says and admires Huegill's easy-going personality and sportsmanship as much as his ability as a swimmer.
"The way he lost weight and came back to compete and win medals is a great motivation."
Reagan's other hero is James Magnussen and this is the Australian swimmer he will be following and barracking for during the Olympics which kick off in London this weekend. Not only will Reagan be cheering Magnussen on but he will be taking in every detail of London's massive Aquatic Centre.
"That's where we'll be competing in August," he says.
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
24 Jul 2012
Reagan Wickens won 2 golds and 5 silver at
the Parapan Games in Canada last year
"My three brothers and my parents knew but no one else was allowed to be told until this month when the Paralympic Swimming team for London was finally announced," he says.
Typically modest and low key not only about being selected for the Paralympics this year but at being picked to join the target squad in training for the Paralympics in Rio in 2016, Reagan insists keeping it a secret wasn't "too difficult."
But for his proud mother, Lisa and the rest of his immediate family it was a different story.
"We are just so proud of him and being a mother, I couldn't wait to tell the world," she says.
Reagan and the rest of Australia's 35-member Paralympic Swimming team head for Cardiff, Wales on 10 August. They will spend the next two and a half weeks at training camp there before heading for London on 27 August and the Opening Ceremony of London's Paralympics 2012 two days later.
17 year old Reagan Wickens began
competitive swimming at 8 and
continues to win medals and acclaim
Back home in Australia, the staff and entire student body at St Patrick's College will also be barracking for Reagan and glued to their television sets as each race unfolds.
"They've told me I have to bring home the gold," Reagan says with a grin.
St Pat's first-ever Paralympian, Reagan will represent Australia in his favourite event, the 400 metres freestyle, Reagan will also compete in the 50 m butterfly, 50 m freestyle, 200 m individual medley, 100 m backstroke and 100 m freestyle.
Despite his heavy training regime which involves getting up at 4.30 am to swim two hours each morning and a further two hours each night, Reagan is managing to find the time to study for his HSC. This means that when he reaches Cardiff and then London, his schedule will not only include four or more hours of training in the pool but several hours of supervised study.
"Reagan is very focussed and committed to whatever he takes on," Lisa says.
Born with achrondraplasia, a bone growth disorder that causes dwarfism, Reagan first made waves at the 2009 Australian Paralympic Youth Games, taking home five medals including a gold in the 100m breastroke. He followed that up last year when he was a member of Australia's international team at the 2011 Parapan Games in Canada, and won 2 gold and 5 silver medals.
Reagan Wickens is a powerhouse when it
comes to swimming and a multi medal winner
His passion for swimming has never waned and thanks to his dedication, hard work and talent, Reagan has continued through secondary school where he proved again and again he is a champion be it in the pool or out of it.
Reagan's all time sports hero is Geoff Huegill, the comeback king of swimming who eight years after breaking records and winning medals, competed at the Commonwealth Games and won gold.
"He's really something," he says and admires Huegill's easy-going personality and sportsmanship as much as his ability as a swimmer.
"The way he lost weight and came back to compete and win medals is a great motivation."
Reagan's other hero is James Magnussen and this is the Australian swimmer he will be following and barracking for during the Olympics which kick off in London this weekend. Not only will Reagan be cheering Magnussen on but he will be taking in every detail of London's massive Aquatic Centre.
"That's where we'll be competing in August," he says.
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
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