KUALA LUMPUR – National para swimmer Carmen Lim aims to secure her spot in this year’s Paris Paralympics through a strong performance in the coming Para Swimming World Series scheduled to take place in Aberdeen, Scotland, next week.
The 24-year-old para swimmer, boasting a collection of 12 medals for Malaysia in the Asean Para Games since her debut in the 2015 Singapore edition, is resolute in rectifying her mistakes.
After missing out on the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, she is determined to achieve her personal best timing and secure qualification for the upcoming event.
“I have been training vigorously to reach my all-time target after missing out on the Tokyo edition in 2020. My coaches have been instrumental in teaching me different techniques to overcome some of the best participants in the upcoming World Series.
“Competing for the past eight years, not reaching the Paralympics remains my biggest regret, but I won’t let my opportunity slip away this time, as I have learned a lot.
“For now, I’m fully focused on preparing for the World Series, aiming to start well in the first tournament in Scotland.
“After that, I have a few more World Series competitions where I will be competing to collect as many points as possible to achieve my goal,” said Carmen.
Carmen’s personal best in the 50m freestyle is 34.43s, and she needs to improve to at least 33.08s to guarantee her spot at the world’s biggest multi-parasports event.
Including the series in Scotland, which will take place from February 1 to 4, seven world series events – in Australia, Italy, the United States, Singapore, Germany and France – will take place between February and June as the qualifying stage for the Paris Paralympics.
This year’s Paralympics is scheduled to take place from August 28 to September 8.
The season will then resume in November with the last two events – Mexico and Egypt – on the calendar.
At the same time, Carmen advocates for more awareness of the inclusivity of disabled athletes, emphasising that they should be treated with the same respect as able-bodied athletes.
She further urges more junior para swimmers to venture into the sport.
“It’s sad to know that there are still sections of the community that do not look at us as mainstream athletes and sometimes treat us like second-class athletes.
“This mentality has to change because, in foreign countries, they don’t discriminate and are very inclusive of their athletes, whether they are able-bodied or disabled athletes.
“But over the years, the public’s perspective towards disabled athletes has changed a bit under the new leadership of the Paralympic Council Malaysia (PCM).
“Now there is high coverage and marketability for para-sports, and the public understands our struggles better. I believe that this is a step to progress.
“PCM has provided athletes with the best facilities and coaching programmes over the years. Hence, I hope to see more junior para swimmers venturing into this sport,” Carmen added.
In 2022, Carmen was awarded the Best Female Paralympian of the Year for her gold medal-winning performance at the Surakarta Asean Para Games.
She has won six gold, four silver and two bronze medals in the Asean Para Games and was a finalist at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games last year. – January 26, 2024