Tiffany
Thomas Kane

Tiffany Thomas Kane was just shy of 14 when she won a gold medal on debut at the 2015 International Paralympic Committee Para-swimming World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. Not only that, but she did it in world record time, finishing nearly two seconds ahead of her nearest (and far more experienced) rival, Charlotte Henshaw (GBR).

Having also won a silver medal in the women’s 50m butterfly S6 and bronze in the women’s 50m freestyle S6 and women’s 100m freestyle S6, it came as no surprise then, when Tiffany achieved selection to her first Australian Paralympic Team for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Tiffany was one of the youngest members of the 2016 Australian Paralympic Team, but she made a big, big splash. She won a gold medal in the women’s 100m breaststroke SB6 and a trio of bronze medals in the women’s 50m butterfly S6, women’s 50m freestyle S6 and women’s 200m individual medley SM6. It was an incredible opening Games campaign and one which earned Tiffany a place among the finalists for Rookie of the Year at Paralympics Australia’s 2016 Australian Paralympic Awards.

Since being reclassified as an S7 athlete in 2017, it has never been more difficult for Tiffany to do what she loves and compete on the world stage. Ever the champion, however, she won the Australian team’s first gold medal of the 2019 World Para-swimming Championships, and was selected for her second Paralympic campaign at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Tiffany endured a gruelling Women’s 200m Individual Medley SM7 to claim the bronze medal, touching the wall with a time of 3:03.11. After rupturing her liver earlier in the year, Thomas Kane said just being in Tokyo was a feat and to make the dais was just an incredible feeling.

She went on to collect another medal in the women’s 100m breaststroke SB7. She powered through the water to a post a time of 1:35.02 to claim bronze.