Meet Sarah Kerrigan
March 23, 2021
Sarah Kerrigan is an open water daily dipper, with a congenital defect. Sarah shares her knowledge, experiences and journey through physical activity on her @troubleonapegleg Instagram account, with empowering messages to encourage peoples of all abilities to be active. Let’s learn more about Sarah’s relationship with the water…
Q: What do you like about being in the water?
A: The water allows me to move without assistance, an important discovery and experience for anyone with a disability - you just feel weightless and free. Being in the water is one of the rare activities where I forget about my limitations - I don't have any of the balance and mobility issues I normally would have.
Q: How did you get into swimming?
A: For as long as I can remember I’ve been a water baby. If I’m not in the sea or pool I’m in the bath. I took a lot of swimming lessons when I was younger and swam mainly in pools up until the last couple of years. I’ve gotten more adventurous with my swimming as I’ve gotten more confident in the water and regularly dip in the sea with my friends, which is honestly one of my greatest joys.
Q: Have you always felt included by the swimming community?
A: Everyone that I have met so far in the swimming community have always been very welcoming and inclusive.
Q: What do you think is your greatest achievement in the water?
A: Honestly, just getting in. Manoeuvring myself on one leg down the rock face at the 40ft is a pretty big feat. It’s always a good day when I stick the landing.
Q: Has anything ever stopped you doing something in swimming?
A: The cold or inaccessibility usually, but apart from that it’s full steam ahead. I love swimming!
Trouble on a Peg Leg
Sarah says her greatest achievement is just managing to get in the water. For all of us, those small wins, those decision to do something, are often over-looked.
Diversity and Inclusion Policy
This story is part of a series we are sharing to showcase how inclusive the aquatics are, and how we believe they are a sport for life, and a sport for everyone.
To find out more check out the documents below:
Virtual CPD: Supporting Swimmers with Additional Needs
This 1 hour CPD will provide you with the knowledge and understanding to better support swimmers who have additional needs.
It takes place on Thursday, March 26 from 13.00-14.00. We hope you can make it! If you can't, check out the rest of our Inclusion CPD Series to see if there is one thing you can do to open your services up to more in 2021.
