Paralympic Champion Tully Kearney Battles Back After Memory Loss and Reclassification
Tully Kearney, a ten-time world champion swimmer, is set to defend her Paralympic titles in Paris just two years after suffering a head injury that caused her to lose all memory of her previous triumphs.
The 27-year-old, who won gold in the S5 100m freestyle and silver in the 200m at the Tokyo Games, faced an 18-month battle to even reach the starting blocks in Paris. The head injury, which she sustained last year, left her with a complex concussion syndrome, forcing her to abandon her Masters degree and lose all motivation for training.
"I hadn't realised how serious it was," said Kearney. "The vertigo made training impossible, and that was the hardest thing. The pool was always my happy place, and losing that really impacted my mental health. I had to push through and learn how to find that joy in training and competing again."
Kearney's path to Paris became even more arduous when World Para Swimming reclassified her earlier this year, placing her in an event with less impaired athletes than she was previously accustomed to. She found the process humiliating and insulting, claiming it almost broke her spirit. However, her appeal was successful, allowing her to remain in the S5 category for athletes with cerebral palsy.
The Paralympic Games are often filled with stories of resilience, but Kearney's is particularly remarkable. Eight years ago, she was told she would never swim again. A shoulder injury then prevented her from making her Paralympic debut in Rio, despite being selected for the team.
"There have been many times I thought my dream was over," she said. "To finally win that gold medal in Tokyo was the culmination of so many hours of hard work and the unwavering support of my friends and family."
Kearney's journey to Paris highlights the incredible strength and determination required to compete at the highest level of Paralympic sport. Her story serves as an inspiration to all those who face seemingly insurmountable challenges, reminding us that with perseverance and a fighting spirit, anything is possible.
