Paralympic goal drives McTernan
WHEN Madeline McTernan took her place on the diving block at the 2019 Australian Swimming Championships in Adelaide, there was much more than the allure of success spurring her on.
Nearly 1000km in Wagga, war veteran Brad Fewson, and friend of McTernan’s father Paul, was being placed into a coma and on life support after 10 days of constant seizures.
After reading a Facebook post from Fewson’s family, McTernan, who has an intellectual disability and competes in the S14 category, was inspired to make a difference.
“I was really upset that this person that my dad knew who used to be really fit was now in a coma and fighting for his life,” the 18-year-old said.
She decided to dedicate her upcoming 50m backstroke final to the Fewsons as well as donate whatever medal she was lucky enough to win to the struggling family. By 6pm, McTernan had a gold medal around her neck.
“I wanted to swim extra fast just for him because I knew that it would mean so much if I got the medal for him,” the St Hilda’s product said.
“It was a good moment that I knew I’d achieved my goal and could dedicate that race to him and donate my medal.”
Two days after McTernan’s triumph on April 23, Fewson woke from his induced coma and was discharged from hospital the following day.
“He’s doing really well,” McTernan said.
Earlier this month, the McTernans engraved the medal with Brad and Laura Fewson’s names.
Now McTernan’s attention shifts to her Paralympic hopes with the emerging star recently named in swimming Australia’s Dolphins squad for the world championships.
“It would be an honour to finally achieve my dream that I’ve had since 2014,” she said of her Tokyo 2020 hopes.