South Coast swimming star Jasmine Greenwood secures second Paralympics selection

South Coast-born Jasmine Greenwood will soon pack her bags and head to her second Paralympics.

“I’ve been feeling kind of jetlagged after the whole week of trials,” she told Region.

“It’s so full-on and it’s very stressful, but in a good way.”

The Canberra-based athlete recently headed to Brisbane for a week of training in which every second counted (literally).

“In the weeks leading into trials, I tapered, so my training got easier and I did fewer kilometres,” Ms Greenwood said.

“I just focused on my speed and my race plan – everything down to how many breaths I was going to take, and when I was going to take them.”

The work paid off and she swam qualifying times in two events at the June trials – the 100-metre butterfly and the 100-metre backstroke.

At the Paris Games, Ms Greenwood’s plan is to also swim in the 50-metre freestyle event and the 200-metre individual medley.

“As long as you qualify for an event, you can actually enter more events – you just need to get yourself on the team first!”

Ms Greenwood started swimming after acquiring a brain injury following complications from appendicitis.

In the years following, the 19-year-old medalled at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, the 2019 and 2022 Para Swimming World Championships, and the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Performing at the international level isn’t for the faint-hearted, however.

“I train eight or so times a week in the pool, and on top of that, we do three gym sessions – which include Pilates, yoga, a circuit and a normal gym program – as well,” Ms Greenwood said.

“Then, throughout the week, I’m getting treatments. Physical treatment, massage and physio.

“And if we need psychological support, that’s here too, which is pretty great.”

Ms Greenwood is also in her second year of studies in psychology at the University of Canberra – with no plans to slow down outside of the pool.

“I think the second semester starts when the comp at Paris starts, so that’s going to be a challenge,” she said.

“I email all my conveners at the start of every semester and say, ‘Hi, this is me, this is where I’ll be’ for a heads-up.

“I only do it part-time, but that’s a sacrifice you have to make. That’s how I keep on top of my grades, by doing enough that I can cope with a load and swim.”

While she is now living in Canberra, Ms Greenwood said her hometown of Sussex Inlet had always supported her.

“I lived there up until about two years ago,” she said.

“It’s not a big place, but I’ve had a lot of messages from people who I went to school with or some of our teachers and my parents’ friends. They’re all wishing me good luck in Paris.

“I definitely have a big community at home that follows me, which I’m grateful for.”

Ms Greenwood will be joined in Paris by the ACT’s Jesse Aungles in the squad of 30 swimmers for her second Paralympics.

“The world has changed since my last Games [in 2020], and there’s new people now that I’m going to be competing against. I’ve changed as well,” she said.

“I’m just excited to see how I’m going to go. I’m not going to put any pressure on myself for any results.”

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will be held between 28 August and 8 September, 2024.