TUMUT swimmer Ashley Van Rijswick's Paralympics hopes transformed from disappointment to delight after a whirlwind 24 hours ended in her booking her ticket to Tokyo at trials in Adelaide.
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The 20-year-old Wagga Swim Club member initially thought she had missed the boat after backing up a 1:17.36 swim in the 100m breaststroke heats with 1:17.73 in the final on Tuesday night, just outside the qualifying time of 1:17.62 for S14-qualified swimmers.
But an unexpected call on Wednesday night from Swimming Australia ensured disappointment would turn to delight for Van Rijswick, who will make her Paralympics debut as part of a 32-strong team in a little over two months.
Officials used their selection discretion to hand Van Rijswick one of the final spots left on the squad given her times still stacked up well against what she will face in Tokyo.
It is yet to be confirmed officially what events Van Rijswick will compete in at the Paralympics, although the 100m breaststroke is her pet event.
She follows in the footsteps of Wagga hockey product Dylan Martin, who completed a whirlwind ascent to be chosen in the Kookaburras squad for his debut Olympics on Monday.
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"It's a very hard to achieve time, but Swimming Australia made the decision to put her in because it's a very positive time. It's probably top five in the world or thereabouts," Wagga Swim Club head coach Gennadiy Labara said.
"For the three-and-a-half years she's been here she's done an amazing job, we always believed she could do it and we're very proud."
Van Rijswick posted her 100m breaststroke personal best of 1:17.34 to win bronze at the Australian Age Championships on the Gold Coast in April.
Labara will set the goal of trying to break the 1:17 mark to give her the best chance of success in Japan.
"I'm happy with the condition she's in now. She can target breaking the 1:17 and that would be a chance for a medal," he said.
"She might have other races, maybe 200m medley or 200m freestyle, I'm not sure what their strategy plan is."
The Paralympics begin on August 24.
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