Col Pearse, whose right foot was amputated due to an accident at the age of two, was a keen sportsman throughout his life, taking part in basketball, football, cricket, and swimming. When it became obvious that he was naturally gifted in the pool, he decided to pursue swimming, beginning his competitive swim career in 2012.
Read MoreCol Pearse, whose right foot was amputated due to an accident at the age of two, was a keen sportsman throughout his life, taking part in basketball, football, cricket, and swimming. When it became obvious that he was naturally gifted in the pool, he decided to pursue swimming, beginning his competitive swim career in 2012.
In 2016, Col was selected for the Australian Paralympic Development Squad.
In 2017, he continued to shine in the pool as he shattered five S10 13-and-under national age records.
The Echuca born Pearse relocated to Melbourne in 2018, training under the tutelage of coach Matt King at Melbourne H20 Swimming Club.
In 2019, Col made his mark at the Hancock Prospecting Australia Age Swimming Championships, winning gold in Boys 15-16-year 100m backstroke (S10), 100m butterfly (S10), 400m free (S10) and 100m breaststroke (SB9).
Making his international debut at the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships in London, an impressive performance saw Col win bronze in the S10 Men’s 100m Butterfly, also breaking the Oceania record.
Col made his Paralympic Games debut at Tokyo 2020, claiming the bronze medal in the men’s 100m butterfly S10. In the final of the men’s 100m backstroke S10, he placed eighth in a time of 1:04.41. The Games debutant finished his program with the men’s 200m individual medley S10, narrowly missing the podium to finish in fourth with a time of 2:14.2
Outside of the pool, Col enjoys camping, hunting, fishing and is a keen AFL, NSL and NBA fan.
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