Laura’s Superpower: How Rainbow Club Helped Her Thrive In and Out of the Pool
At Rainbow Club, we love sharing stories of our amazing members and their journeys in and out of the pool. One inspiring member is Laura, 15, who joined Rainbow Club in 2022 at the Cronulla/Miranda Club. Starting as a Blue level swimmer, Laura has progressed to Violet level and is now taking her skills beyond the pool.
”Hi, I’m Laura, and I love swimming. I go to Rainbow Club every week. My favourite water activities are:
• Surfing for fun
• Surf life-saving competitions
• Swimming competitions
Recently, I travelled to the Gold Coast to compete in the adaptive category of the Aussie’s Surf Life Saving National Championships. I really wanted gold, but I still did pretty well – I came third (bronze), even after a nosebleed mid-competition. But that didn’t stop me! I’m aiming to reclaim my gold medal next year at the Aussie’s 2026.
I’m able to do all these things because my disability is my superpower. Just because someone has a disability doesn’t mean they can’t do great things. And… don’t give up!”
Laura’s parents have seen firsthand the positive impact of Rainbow Club:
“Rainbow Club has enabled us to foster Laura’s interest in swimming, the beach, surf lifesaving, and competitive sport. We started our journey with other water-based programs, but it often felt like one step forward and two steps back. To give you an idea of the challenges, the entire pool would know when Dad and his daughter had arrived at the local pool to practice swimming!
These challenges didn’t stop us, but it was hard to find a consistent program. Rainbow Club has provided an all-year-round, reliable program that’s helped Laura grow and develop at her own pace. The result is an amazing, confident, and committed individual whose achievements show that a disability doesn’t mean you shouldn’t expect the unexpected.”
A big thank you to Carla, Jasmine, and the team of teachers at Sylvania Rainbow Club for helping Laura on her journey.
We’re proud to support members like Laura to reach their goals – in the pool and beyond.
