Taylor Corry was ready for the Paralympics.
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After winning two silver medals in London in 2012 but missing out on attending the Rio Games in 2016, the Nelson Bay swimmer had put everything into a comeback at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.
Everything was going to plan until the Olympic and Paralympic Games were in March postponed one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Olympic Games, still to be called Tokyo 2020, is set to be held July 23 to August 8, 2021 with the Paralympics to follow from August 24 to September 5.
"I felt really ready to compete in Tokyo," Corry, aged 25, said. "I was disappointed when they announced the Paralympics would be postponed a year but there's nothing you can do but keep training and working hard."
Growing up in Anna Bay, Corry has always had a love for water. She began swimming when she was three and never stopped.
At age 15 she entered her first international competition and at age 17, swam in her first Paralympics where she won silver medals in the 100m backstroke and 200m freestyle for the S14 category, which is for swimmers with intellectual disabilities.
Outside of the competition arena, Corry still lives her life by the water as a learn to swim coach and lifeguard in Nelson Bay. When Tomaree Aquatic Centre, her home pool, in Nelson Bay closed for maintenance, Corry temporarily moved to Queensland for a period of three months.
With still one month left on the Sunshine Coast, Corry has been in the pool nine times a week with four Australian Paralympic and a number of able-bodied swimmers. Additionally, she is in the gym three times a week.
"I feel really happy to be back in the pool," Corry said. "When we first went into lockdown I was just swimming at the beach every day. Up here [in Queensland] I am swimming in the pool every day. I'm training really hard, waiting until we can compete again."
Corry, who is part of the Nelson Bay Swim Club and is coached by Tom Davis, and other Australian swimmers vying for a spot at the Tokyo Games will look to secure their spot on the team in June when trials are held.
Corry is looking to qualify for the 200m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 100m butterfly, 200m individual medley, four-by-100m mixed relay and 100m breaststroke events.
Her focus is on the newly added 100m butterfly, which is her strongest stroke. She is currently ranked fourth in the world for the event after a strong showing at the 2019 world championships.
Corry's goal is to win gold in the women's 100m butterfly S14 at the Paralympics. She hopes to do equally as well in the mixed relay and individual medley.
Corry believes her experience at the London Games will put her in good stead for her second Paralympics.
"I was quite young when I went to London. I'm older, more mature and have quite a lot more experience now. I feel confident about competing in Tokyo."
ALSO READ: June 2019 | Corry headed to London for world swim championships