Paralympian Swimmer who competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, becoming the first amputee to ever qualify for the Olympics.
She was a competitive Swimmer as a teenager before having her leg amputated in 2001; she was swimming again in just three months.
She won five gold medals at the 2004 Summer Paralympics and retired after the 2012 Paralympics.
She was born in Cape Town, South Africa.
Her inspiring story, along with the dominance of Michael Phelps, brought swimming to the forefront of the 2008 Summer Olympics.
