Media Release by The Hon Jenny Macklin MP

Freney’s golden streak continues

Joint Media Release with:

  • Senator Kate Lundy, Minister for Sport, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation

    Senator Jan Mclucas, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister

Minister for Disability Reform Jenny Macklin, Minister for Sport Kate Lundy and Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers Jan McLucas today congratulated swimmer Jacqui Freney on winning the S7 100m freestyle final.

Jacqui entered the race as the world record holder and delivered an impressive swim to collect gold in a new Paralympic record time of 1:09.39.

Later, Jacqui anchored the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team to victory to secure her fifth gold medal and claim the title of the highest medallist of the Games.

Scooping five gold medals is a remarkable feat and a credit to Jacqui’s superb talent as a swimmer.

Jacqui has dominated all her races in the London Aquatics Centre to successfully claim gold in every event she has contested.

Since her Games debut as a 16-year-old in Beijing where she collected three bronze medals, Jacqui has continued to improve as a swimmer and impress on the international stage.

She has certainly made a splash in London and launched herself as our newest Australian Paralympic superstar.

The Gillard Government is working towards a future where all Australian children and adults with disability lead lives of dignity and opportunity.

We are providing $1 billion to deliver the first stage of a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to provide Australians with a disability the care and support they need, when they need it.

The Australian Government has also provided strong funding to support our Paralympic Team, committing over $13.7 million in 2011-12 for the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) and $2.7 million in Direct Athlete Support (DAS) to help Australia’s Paralympic athletes reach their potential.