14 Facts About Siobhan Paton

Siobhan Paton decided to become a swimmer after finding out she has a connective tissue disorder and that swimming would assist in the strengthening of her joints.

Siobhan Paton initially began competing with non-disabled athletes and only in 1997 did she compete in a competition for athletes with disabilities, where she won seven gold medals and one silver medal.

Siobhan Paton represented Australia at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, where she won six gold medals, for which she received a Medal of the Order of Australia, and set world records on nine occasions in the process.

Siobhan Paton was awarded an Australian Sports Medal before the 2000 games.

Siobhan Paton only competed in one Paralympics in her career where she managed to set many world records; some of which remain unbroken.

Siobhan Paton remained composed during the 2000 Paralympics because she had the mentality that it was 'just another meet'.

Siobhan Paton was coached by the grandfather of Jacqueline Freney who now assists in the development of Freney.

Siobhan Paton won six Paralympic medals during the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games.

Siobhan Paton won gold in the 50m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 50m butterfly, 100m freestyle and 200m individual medley.

Siobhan Paton was identified as one of the highest individual gold medalist at a single Games.

The 2000 Summer Paralympic Games in Sydney were the final Paralympic Games which Siobhan Paton was eligible to compete in.

In 2004, Siobhan Paton competed in the INAS-FID World Championships, where she won fourteen gold medals and three silver.

The decision by the IPC caused Siobhan Paton to sink into depression from 2004 on since she felt as though she "wasn't disabled enough" even though it was accelerated by a cover all banning of all athletes with intellectual disability after the 2000 gold medal-winning Spanish basketball team had only two players with an intellectual disability.

Siobhan Paton had hoped that she would be competing at the Athens Games alongside her sister after the testing by the IPC.