Elizabeth Wright (swimmer)
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Wright is an Australian Paralympic swimming competitor and academic. She won two bronze medals and a silver medal in the Paralympic Games. She has achieved a Master of Philosophy
in fine arts (photography).
. She was born with a congenital limb deficiency. Her right arm is missing at the elbow, her right leg is "severely shortened" requiring the use of a prosthesis
and she is lacking two fingers and the forearm bone of her left hand.
She was a New South Wales Institute of Sport swimmer. She attended the opening of the Wesley Mission's Mangrove Mountain Retreat swimming pool. She won a bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Games
in the Women's 50 m Butterfly S6 event.In January 2000, she attended the Australia Day
Celebrations in Forest Park as a Paralympic Ambassador.She competed in the 2000 Sydney Games
where she won a silver medal in the Women's 400 m Freestyle S6 event, and a bronze medal as part of the Australian women's team in the 4x 50 m Freestyle Relay.
. She studied abroad at University of Leeds
in her third year at the university. In 2008, she attended the University of Newcastle, where she completed a Master of Philosophy
in Fine Art (Photography). She later attended the University of Leeds as a Doctorate of Philosophy student doing research in the fine arts. She attended a conference in Ottawa, Canada where she presented a paper titled "self (un)contained: revealing the authentic experience of disability within a feminist context’ at the Canadian Association for Women’s Public History Conference, ‘Women’s Bodies in a Public History Context." She had a paper published in the University of Edinburgh
’s Postgraduate Journal of Culture and the Arts titled "My Prosthetic and I: identity representation in bodily extension." She is currently working with the overseas disability charity CBM
as their Sports Ambassador.
Master of Philosophy
The Master of Philosophy is a postgraduate research degree.An M.Phil. is a lesser degree than a Doctor of Philosophy , but in many cases it is considered to be a more senior degree than a taught Master's degree, as it is often a thesis-only degree. In some instances, an M.Phil...
in fine arts (photography).
Early life
Wright was born on 9 November 1979, and is from Cooranbong, New South WalesCooranbong, New South Wales
Cooranbong is a town and rural suburb of the City of Lake Macquarie in New South Wales, Australia, and is located west of the town of Morisset off the Sydney-Newcastle Freeway....
. She was born with a congenital limb deficiency. Her right arm is missing at the elbow, her right leg is "severely shortened" requiring the use of a prosthesis
Prosthesis
In medicine, a prosthesis, prosthetic, or prosthetic limb is an artificial device extension that replaces a missing body part. It is part of the field of biomechatronics, the science of using mechanical devices with human muscle, skeleton, and nervous systems to assist or enhance motor control...
and she is lacking two fingers and the forearm bone of her left hand.
Swimming career
Wright swam for the Gosford Amateur Swimming Club. Her swimming career at the highest level lasted for seven years. She swam in the s6 classification area.She was a New South Wales Institute of Sport swimmer. She attended the opening of the Wesley Mission's Mangrove Mountain Retreat swimming pool. She won a bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Games
1996 Summer Paralympics
The 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta, USA were held from 16 August to 25 August. It was the first Paralympics to get mass media sponsorship, and had a budget of USD $81 million....
in the Women's 50 m Butterfly S6 event.In January 2000, she attended the Australia Day
Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia...
Celebrations in Forest Park as a Paralympic Ambassador.She competed in the 2000 Sydney Games
2000 Summer Paralympics
The 2000 Paralympic Games were held in Sydney, Australia, from 18 October to 29 October. The eleventh Summer Paralympic Games, an estimated 3800 athletes took part in the Sydney programme. They commenced with the opening ceremony on 18 October 2000...
where she won a silver medal in the Women's 400 m Freestyle S6 event, and a bronze medal as part of the Australian women's team in the 4x 50 m Freestyle Relay.
Academic career
Wright first attended the University of Newcastle in 2003 at her mother's urging to explore her love of art in that setting. She enrolled in the university's Open Foundation program, which is intended for students over twenty-years old who are entering university for the first time., before transitioning to Central Coast campus to complete a Bachelor of Fine ArtsBachelor of Fine Arts
In the United States and Canada, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual or performing arts. In some countries such a degree is called a Bachelor of Creative Arts or BCA...
. She studied abroad at University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
in her third year at the university. In 2008, she attended the University of Newcastle, where she completed a Master of Philosophy
Master of Philosophy
The Master of Philosophy is a postgraduate research degree.An M.Phil. is a lesser degree than a Doctor of Philosophy , but in many cases it is considered to be a more senior degree than a taught Master's degree, as it is often a thesis-only degree. In some instances, an M.Phil...
in Fine Art (Photography). She later attended the University of Leeds as a Doctorate of Philosophy student doing research in the fine arts. She attended a conference in Ottawa, Canada where she presented a paper titled "self (un)contained: revealing the authentic experience of disability within a feminist context’ at the Canadian Association for Women’s Public History Conference, ‘Women’s Bodies in a Public History Context." She had a paper published in the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
’s Postgraduate Journal of Culture and the Arts titled "My Prosthetic and I: identity representation in bodily extension." She is currently working with the overseas disability charity CBM
Christian Blind Mission
The Christian Blind Mission is a Christian humanitarian organization aiming to improve the lives of people with disabilities. It considered one of the world's oldest and largest religious organization serving the blind and disabled...
as their Sports Ambassador.