Selwyn_Times: October 11, 2023

Selwyn Times Wednesday October 11 2023
24
SPORT
Watson sets sights on 2024 Paralympics
• By Sasha Watson
GENEVIEVE WATSON has
made history as New Zealand’s
first female representative
with autism to swim in the II3
(autism) category at the Virtus
Global Games.
Now the 21-year-old from
Lincoln has her sights set on the
Paralympics in Paris in August
2024.
But to get there, she needs to
qualify at two separate global
games, held in Australia and
Taiwan next year.
“I would love the opportunity
to swim again,” said Watson.
But the flights to the
competitions alone will cost
more than $6000 – and the Ara
Te Pukenga student needs help
to reach her goal.
“Due to there being no
funding allocated to competitors
living with autism, my trips
to the global games are all
completely self-funded,” she said.
“I am planning to fundraise
throughout the year with sausage
sizzles, a Givealittle page, and
hopefully, although difficult to
muster, sponsorship.”
The Virtus Global Games
is the world’s largest elite
sports event for athletes with
an intellectual impairment.
Thousands of athletes from
Europe, America, Asia, Africa,
FINALIST: Swimmer Genevieve Watson finished in the
top eight of all nine of her races at this year’s Virtus Global
Games. Now she’s aiming for the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.
and Oceania performed across
10 main sports.
“I was the first woman from
New Zealand to compete at
the games internationally
in swimming as the autism
category had just been created,”
said Watson.
She placed in the top eight
of all nine of her swims at the
games. Of the New Zealand
competitors, Watson came
closest to getting a medal with
a 4th place in the II3 final of the
100m breaststroke.
“It was such a close race – I
only just missed out on placing a
medal,” she said.
Watson was a part of a team
of 12 from New Zealand that
achieved several ‘firsts’, including
first swim in the II3 (autism)
and II2 (significant intellectual
impairment) categories.
Swimmers also made the finals
in those categories, plus the
II1 (intellectual impairment)
category.
“France was life-changing
– the food, the culture, all of
life is different from here,” said
Watson.
“The opportunity to go was
amazing, and qualifying for the
games was even more so.”
She qualified for the games
at the 2022 Special Olympics in
Hamilton, after winning two
gold and two bronze medals.
After being diagnosed with
autism in the same year, Watson
said swimming is “an important
part of her life”.
“I have a long health history;
I have dyspraxia and was
diagnosed with epilepsy at the
age of seven. I also have other
complex health needs,” she said.
“I am proud of my
achievements – all of the hard
work put in was well worth the
effort. I have been swimming
since I was six months old and
competing since I was 12.”
• To donate or to find out
more, contact Genevieve
Watson by email
genevievewatson2002@
gmail.com or on 027 956
3298.
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