Priya, an adult with cerebral palsy, reflects on her career as a Paralympic Athlete and its positive impact on her life
Priya Cooper has had an accomplished career as a Paralympic Athlete, having competed in swimming across three Paralympic Games. With nine gold, three silver, and four bronze medals won throughout her swimming career, Priya’s first Paralympic Games was Barcelona in 1992.
“I was always active as a kid and officially started sport at 15, then went to the Paralympic Games in Barcelona when I was 17. That was really the start of a massive journey for me,” Priya said.
“Growing up as a kid with cerebral palsy, not as much was known about it back then. Then, going to the Paralympic Games as a young person, you suddenly see all of these other people dealing with the same things.”
Priya, now 49, attributes her experience in sports at school with being the catalyst for her passion in swimming.
“In school sports, athletics was not my thing, and I found that I was good at swimming and I really liked it.
I started with swimming at school and had a sports teacher who was an Olympian. He’s the one who first suggested that I start training at a higher level.
Image: Priya Cooper in 1996 (CC Australian Paralympic Committee)
“With sport, whether you’re competing in the Paralympics or not, I think it’s just really empowering. Whether it’s swimming, basketball, or something else casually once per week, it’s a way for people to be part of a community.”
Priya went on to co-captain the Australian Paralympic team on two occasions. Over thirty years after her first Paralympic Games, Priya reflects on that time and subsequent Paralympic Games as formative experiences in her life.
“It was such an eye-opener to see how people live in other countries and gave me a lot of perspective as a young person.
“It was also the start of a camaraderie [with other athletes] that has lasted for so many years.
People with disabilities have an experience that we can relate to each other, and so we have the potential to really empower each other too.
“I think it’s important that people with disabilities can stand up for what we think is right and be honest about it. In a way, my experience with the Paralympics went way beyond just swimming and medals—it was really about humanity and respecting people’s rights, and for people with disabilities to have the same rights as everyone else.”
Priya has also done substantial work in disability advocacy and she has served as board member and chair for significant disability organisations such as the Disability Services Commission and the Western Australia Disabled Sporting Association. She believes that representation of people with disabilities in sport is important to inspire younger generations.
“I really, truly believe the expression that you can’t be what you can’t see, and that definitely applies for people with disabilities.”
For more information about sports and recreation as a person with cerebral palsy, My CP Guide hosts a variety of information resources. Browse the Leisure & Recreation category on My CP Guide to find other relevant resources.