Tokyo 2020 Paralympics: Kirralee Hayes, swimming

Genesis Aquatics swimmer Kirralee Hayes has no doubt gained plenty of experience after her first Paralympics, but will not progress to tonight’s women’s 50m freestyle S13 final.

The 17-year-old finished fourth in her heat this morning in a time of 28.29 seconds. The heat was won by fellow Australian Katja Dedekind in a time of 27.44 seconds.

The heats were fast, with two Paralympic records set and the world record threatened at one stage.

Hayes, a founding member of the club at Genesis Christian College, had qualified for the S13 (vision impaired) 50m Freestyle and 100m Butterfly in Japan.

She finished fifth in heat three of the women's 100m Butterfly S13 clocking 1:12.68.

Hayes is based at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra, but regularly returns to train at Genesis Aquatics with her coach Rick Pendleton.

In Paralympics action tomorrow, fellow Moreton Bay Region swimmer Brenden Hall will contest the 100m backstroke S9. The heats are on at 10.07pm, with the final at 6.14pm. 

Read more about our local Paralympians here