Karen McPherson (swimmer)

Canadian Paralympic swimmer

Karen McPherson

Personal information

Nationality| Canadian
Born| 1950 or 1951 (age 73–74)[1]
Sport
Country| Canada
Sport| Swimming

Medal record

Athletics at the Summer Paralympics
Representing  Canada
Paralympics
| 1968 Tel Aviv | Women's 50m breaststroke class 3 incomplete
| 1968 Tel Aviv | Women's 100m breaststroke open
| 1968 Tel Aviv | Women's 50m backstroke class 3 incomplete

Karen McPherson (born in 1951) is a Canadian retired Paralympic athlete. She won three medals in swimming events at the 1968 Summer Paralympics, held in Tel Aviv.

## Early life

[edit]

McPherson became paraplegic in infancy, after surviving polio.[2] She used arm crutches, leg braces, and a wheelchair.[3][4] She was a student at Vancouver's Little Flower Academy,[4][1] and attended Vancouver City College.[5]

## Swimming career

[edit]

McPherson competed in the first Pan American Wheelchair Games, held in Winnipeg in 1967, and won seven gold medals in swimming events.[4][6] She won three medals in the 1968 Summer Paralympics, held in Tel Aviv.[1][7] She was the youngest British Columbian on the Canadian national team.[8] In 1969, she swam on a relay team with Gwen John, Hilda Binns, and Elaine Ell,[9] and won seven medals at the Pan-American Wheelchair Games in Buenos Aires.[5][10] In 1971 she competed in the Western Washington Wheelchair Games in Seattle, setting a record in the backstroke event.[3] In 1973, she broke two national records at the B.C. Wheelchair Games.[11][12] She held seven national Canadian records in 1974,[13]

McPherson was nominated for Junior Athlete of the Year by the Vancouver Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1969.[14] She was active in the British Columbia Wheelchair Sports Association in its early years.[3]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Karen Earns Team Berth". Vancouver Sun. September 7, 1968. p. 22. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
2. ^ "Paralympic Team Gets Rousing Welcome Home". Vancouver Sun. November 22, 1968. p. 10. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
3. ^ a b c Alsop, Kay (1971-06-22). "It's a Long Way to Jamaica". The Province. p. 28. Retrieved 2021-07-22 - via Newspapers.com.
4. ^ a b c "Paraplegic Wins Sept. Teen Honor". The Province. 1968-09-06. p. 12. Retrieved 2021-07-22 - via Newspapers.com.
5. ^ a b Watters, Dave (1969-12-15). "A Big Hand for Seven Aces". The Vancouver Sun. p. 21. Retrieved 2021-07-22 - via Newspapers.com.
6. ^ Watters, Dave (1967-08-14). "Canadian Paraplegics Learn the Hard Way". The Vancouver Sun. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-07-22 - via Newspapers.com.
7. ^ "Karen Captures Silver, Bronze". The Vancouver Sun. November 8, 1968. p. 19. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
8. ^ "And Now the Israel Paralympics". The Vancouver Sun. 1968-10-29. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-07-22 - via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ "Gwen Collects Gold as Canadians Third". Times Colonist. 1969-12-08. p. 14. Retrieved 2021-07-22 - via Newspapers.com.
10. ^ "A Real Midas Touch". The Province. 1969-12-08. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-07-22 - via Newspapers.com.
11. ^ "National Records Tumble as Festival Kicks Off". The Vancouver Sun. 1973-05-22. p. 28. Retrieved 2021-07-22 - via Newspapers.com.
12. ^ "Festival Opens in Victoria". Quesnel Cariboo Observer. 1973-05-30. pp. B3. Retrieved 2021-07-22 - via Newspapers.com.
13. ^ "Athletes in their Wheelchairs". Quesnel Cariboo Observer. 1974-05-01. pp. B1. Retrieved 2021-07-22 - via Newspapers.com.
14. ^ "B.C. Awards Banquet Set". The Province. 1969-02-18. p. 17. Retrieved 2021-07-22.