Australian Paralympic Swimmer
At 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s 1979-1983
Danae Sweetapple was a boarder while at 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s, hailing from the Queensland town of St George. She was born blind at birth but regained partial sight through a series of operations. Despite this challenge, Danae has enjoyed great success and achievement throughout her career and continued on a journey of lifelong learning.
After leaving school, Danae worked as a speech and drama teacher operating her own studio.
In 1990, she took up competitive swimming and her early swimming results led to her being offered one of the first Australian Institute of Sport scholarships for disabled swimmers. Danae competed at the 1992 Paralympic Games in Barcelona, winning a silver medal in the Women’s 100m Freestyle B2 event and two bronze medals in the Women’s 100m Backstroke B2 and Women’s 50m Freestyle B2 events.
That same year, Danae was named Young Queenslander of the Year.
Danae later graduated from Griffith University with a Bachelor of Arts, triple majoring in creative writing, literature and sociology.
Compelled to return to sport in some capacity, Danae also undertook a nationally accredited diploma in sport and remedial massage and worked as a massage therapist.
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