Tracy Barrell

Tracy Lee Barrell, OAM (born 1974) is a triple congenital amputee Paralympic swimmer from Australia. She won two gold medals at the 1992 Barcelona Games. She is a strong advocate for people with disabilities and an indigenous Australian.

Personal life

Barrell was born in 1974 in New South Wales.

She got married in February 1995 to Steve and got divorced 3 years later. She was coached by Mick Maroney and later by Greg Hodge. Her results led her to being awarded the Athlete of the Games. She was classified as a S4 swimmer.

Thanks to her mother, who sold their farm to get tickets to Spain, she took part in the 1992 Barcelona Games.

In 1993, for her sporting achievements, including those at the Paralympic Games, she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).

She retired from swimming in 1994 due to injury and surgery to her only arm. Between 2008 and 2015, she was an ambassador for Don't DIS my ABILITY, a program that provides inspirational role models for people with disabilities.

In 2011, she was denied access to all rides at Movie World Studios due to a change in their safety policy. In previous visits, she was able to access all the rides.

In 2013, she was appointed as a Living Life My Way Ambassadors and Champions by the New South Wales Government.

Barrell has indigenous heritage. In 2015, she was a spokesperson for First Peoples Disability Network and on December 3rd she took part in a celebration of indigenous Paralympians at National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Sydney.