Morgan Bird

Morgan Bird
Personal information
NicknameBirdie
Born (1993-09-06) September 6, 1993 (age 31)
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height163 cm (5 ft 4 in)
Sport
Country Canada
SportParalympic swimming
DisabilityCerebral palsy
Disability classS8
Coached byMike Thompson
Medal record
Paralympic swimming
Representing  Canada
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal – second place 2018 Gold Coast Women's 50m freestyle S8
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2013 Montreal Women's 50m freestyle S8
Silver medal – second place 2013 Montreal Women's 4x100m freestyle relay
Parapan American Games
Gold medal – first place 2015 Toronto Women's 50m freestyle S8
Gold medal – first place 2015 Toronto Women's 400m freestyle S8
Silver medal – second place 2015 Toronto Women's 100m freestyle S8
Summer Paralympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 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. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b c 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.