Rachael Watson

Rachael Elizabeth Watson, (born 30 January 1992) is an Australian Paralympic swimmer. Watson represented Australia at the 2016 Rio Paralympics winning gold in the 50m Freestyle S4, a feat she repeated at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. At the 2024 Paris Paralympics, she won two bronze medals.

Personal Watson was born on 30 January 1992. She is a triplet and has mild cerebral palsy however remained functionally independent and ambulant. In her early 20's she acquired Guillain Barre Syndrome that led to severe muscle weakness and peripheral nervous system damage resulting in quadriplegia requiring the use of a wheelchair. Watson has subsequently been diagnosed with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.

In late 2025, Watson was awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship to travel to Europe in 2026 to investigate "coaching methods and support requirements for swimmers with High Support Needs." This is a competitive overseas research grant funded by the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust which offers global learning experiences.

Swimming Watson took up swimming as part of her rehabilitation from Guillain Barre Syndrome.

At the 2016 Rio Paralympics, Watson won the gold medal in the Women's 50m Freestyle S4 in a Paralympic record time of 40.13. Watson became the first swimmer classed S5 or below, to win gold for Australia this millennium.

Watson qualified for the 2017 World Championships but the competition was cancelled due to a major earthquake in Mexico occurring just a fortnight prior to the event.

In 2018, Watson was chosen to volunteer at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. She could not compete as her swimming classification was not included in this competition.

At the postponed 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, Watson won the gold medal in the Women's 50m freestyle S4 in a Paralympic record time of 39.36.

In 2022, Watson was chosen to volunteer at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. She could not compete as her swimming classification was not included in this competition.

At the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Watson won the 500th medal in swimming for Australia and was the first Olympian or Paralympian to win a medal in the 50m Freestyle at three consecutive games. Watson also won Australia's first ever medal in the S3 100m Freestyle since the Paralympics begun in 1960.

Recognition 2016 – Australian Institute of Sport Discovery of the Year 2016 – Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association Most Improved Athlete 2017 – Medal of the Order of Australia 2021 - University of Queensland Blue (university sport) Award for Sporting Excellence 2022 - University of Queensland Sportswoman of the Year 2023 - Australian Sports Medal 2025 - Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Recipient of an overseas research travel grant 2025 - Swimming Brisbane Para Swimmer of the Year