Visually Impaired From Birth, Trischa Zorn Did Not Give In To Circumstances And Swam Her Way To 37 Paralympic Gold Medals

When it comes to para athletes, and particularly the Paralympics, then the name Trischa Zorn is an institution in itself. Yes, the lady is considered the greatest in the history of the Paralympic games and with good reason. Like all para athletes, she had to fight outside the field of her sport as well.

Trischa was visually impaired from birth but that did not deter her. She started swimming at an early age and became an accomplished swimmer by the time she was in her teens. And that is no mean feat at all.

Between 1980 and 2004, Zorn won 52 Paralympic medals out of which 37 were gold, 10 silver and 5 bronze. Now those are staggering numbers. She was inducted into the Paralympic Hall of Fame in 2012 and nobody can say she does not deserve it.

She has the most medals in a single sport and also it is a Games record. Performances from her inspired the likes of Jessica Long to build on the legacy she left behind.

Despite her handicap, she was fast and had precision in her swimming. Zorn is rated as one of the best athletes ever and no able-bodied athlete, not even Michael Phelps, has as many medals. Now that is something to be proud of.

She may be from an era forgotten and current sports fans probably have no clue who she is. But for a woman whose every single day was a struggle, something that we take for granted at most times, her achievements make her all the more special.

Zorn retired over a decade ago, but the legacy she has left for para swimmers is the benchmark to live up to. A fighter inside and outside the pool, Zorn battled adversity and won. Whenever she won in the pool, she was winning a battle in life as well. That is the true hallmark of a sportsperson. Sports is the triumph of the human spirit and in Zorn's case, well she has won with flying colours.