Morgan Bird

Morgan Bird

Personal information
Nickname	Birdie
Born	(1993-09-06) September 6, 1993 (age 31) Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height	163 cm (5 ft 4 in)
Sport
Country	Canada
Sport	Paralympic swimming
Disability	Cerebral palsy
Disability class	S8
Coached by	Mike Thompson
Medal record Paralympic swimming Representing  Canada Commonwealth Games 2018 Gold Coast Women's 50m freestyle S8 World Championships 2013 Montreal Women's 50m freestyle S8 2013 Montreal Women's 4x100m freestyle relay Parapan American Games 2015 Toronto Women's 50m freestyle S8 2015 Toronto Women's 400m freestyle S8 2015 Toronto Women's 100m freestyle S8 Summer Paralympic Games 2020 Tokyo Women's 4 × 100m SB8

Morgan Bird (born September 6, 1993) is a Canadian Paralympic swimmer who competes in international level events, she specialises in freestyle. She won a bronze medal, at the 2020 Summer Paralympics, in Women's 34pts 4x100m relay.[1] She is a double Parapan American Games champion and double World silver medalist.[2][3][4]

Early life and education

Morgan Bird was born in Regina, Saskatchewan in 1993 to parents Garth and Heidi Bird.[5] She was born with cerebral palsy affecting the left side of her body.[6] She began swimming as physiotherapy for her cerebral palsy[7] and started swimming competitively at age 11.[5] She has a bachelor of child studies from Mount Royal University in Calgary.[8]

Career

Bird made her Paralympic debut at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. She placed fourth in the women's 400 m freestyle S8.[5] Alongside four members of Canada's 2012 Olympic Team and 10 fellow members Canada's Paralympic Team, she received a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal later that year.[9] She won her first international medal at the 2013 IPC World Championships, winning bronze in both the 50m freestyle and in the relay.[5]

Bird placed fourth in the S8 100-m freestyle at the 2014 Commonwealth Games[8] At the 2015 Parapan American Games, she won gold in both the women's 400-metre freestyle S8 and 50-metre freestyle S8.[10] She also won silver in the women's S8 100-metre freestyle.[11] She placed fifth in the S8100-m freestyle at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Bird won silver in the women’s 50m freestyle S8 at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.[12] Also at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Bird moved up a category and competed in the S9 women's 100-m freestyle.[8]

On a team with Katarina Roxon, Sabrina Duchesne, and Aurelie Rivard, Bird swam the opening leg and won a bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Paralympics, in Women's 34pts 4x100m relay.[13][14]

Bird announced her retirement from competitive para-swimming in 2021.[15]

References

1. "Swimming BIRD Morgan". Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on September 12, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
2. "Morgan Bird - Team Canada Profile". Canadian Paralympic Committee. February 14, 2020.
3. "Morgan Bird - Swimming Canada Profile". Swimming Canada. February 14, 2020.
4. "Morgan Bird - IPC Profile". International Paralympic Committee. February 14, 2020.
5. Lawrence, Coriandré (2013-12-27). "Paralympic swimmer making waves has Carlyle connection". SaskToday.ca. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
6. Parker, Brendan (2017-04-12). "Calgary's Morgan Bird determined to be a voice for Paralympic movement in Canada". Global News. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
7. "Regina-born swimmer Morgan Bird has impressive showing at Parapan Am games". CBC. 2015-08-13. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
8. Morris, Him (2018-03-29). "Para-swimmer Morgan Bird not intimidated by racing in a higher class at Commonwealth Games". Swimming Canada. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
9. "2012 Olympians and Paralympians honoured in Calgary". Team Canada - Official Olympic Team Website. 2012-10-09. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
10. "Saskatchewan swimmers win multiple medals at Parapan Am Games". CBC. 2015-08-10. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
11. Katie, Katie; Boesveld, Sarah (2015-12-27). "Women of the year: 30 Canadians who rocked 2015". Chatelaine. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
12. O’Halloran, Kate (2018-04-10). "No fairytale finish for Kurt Fearnley but Australia win eight golds in pool". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
13. Braun, Jessa (2021-08-30). "Canada wins swim bronze in 400m relay after U.S. and Great Britain disqualified". The Toronto Observer. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
14. Rankin, Christine (2021-08-29). "Paralympic wake-up call: Disqualifications result in shock bronze medal for Canadian swimmers". CBC. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
15. "Paralympians Morgan Bird and Tammy Cunnington announce retirement". Canadian Paralympic Committee. 2021-12-02. Retrieved 2024-08-02.

External links

• Morgan Bird at the Canadian Paralympic Committee
• Morgan Bird at the International Paralympic Committee