Swim Smooth Episode 16 - Stephanie Dixon, 19-time Paralympic swimming champion and world record holder!
May 13, 2019
Join 19-time Paralympic champion Stephanie Dixon as she shares her remarkable journey from being born with a limb difference to becoming a world record holder and motivational speaker. She discusses the impact of winter life in the Yukon and her role as Chef de Mission for Team Canada. Stephanie delves into the camaraderie between athletes with disabilities and reflects on her mental resilience during competition. With a passion for coaching, she emphasizes the importance of acceptance and making the most of one's circumstances, inspiring listeners to embrace their uniqueness.
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You Are Enough Before Results
- Stephanie Dixon argues self-worth must not depend on medals, times, or external validation.
- When you feel "enough" already, pressure drops and performance and joy increase.
Born A Merfolk, Found The Water
- Stephanie was born missing her right leg, hip and part of her pelvis and felt like a mermaid in the water from age two.
- Her parents treated her the same as her brother and immersed her in swimming, which became a refuge and strength.
Classification Balances, Not Perfects
- Paralympic classification groups athletes by functional ability, not diagnosis, creating unavoidable variance.
- Classification refines fairness but high performance will always leave hard edge cases and disputes.