Tully Kearney is a decorated British Paralympic swimmer, competing in the S5/SB3 classification for athletes with physical disabilities. Born in 1997, she has cerebral palsy and generalized dystonia, conditions that primarily affect her lower limbs, left arm, and trunk. Kearney's impressive career includes Gold and Silver medals at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, where she set world records in both the 50m and 100m freestyle. She has also won numerous medals at the IPC Swimming World Championships, including multiple golds and record-breaking performances.
Kearney began swimming at age eight and rose quickly through the ranks, inspired by fellow Paralympic gold medalist Ellie Simmonds. Despite setbacks, including a significant progression of her dystonia that forced her to withdraw from the 2016 Rio Paralympics, Kearney made a remarkable comeback. She returned to international competition, winning multiple world titles and setting records in 2018 and 2019. In 2022, she became a triple World Champion, setting world records in all three events at the Madeira World Championships.
Kearney's journey has been marked by resilience, overcoming serious health challenges, including a head injury in 2023 that affected her physical and mental health. Despite these obstacles, she has been selected for the GB team for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Kearney was honored with an MBE in 2022 for her services to swimming and continues to inspire with her dedication and achievements.
