First Time Paralympians Series

Welcome to our new profile series highlighting Ontario's first time Olympic and Paralympic qualifiers who will be in Paris this summer.

You may have heard the expressions “time flies” or “how quickly the time can pass, you don't even realize that it is passing”.

Just over two years ago, Katie Cosgriffe was swimming with her friends when she dabbled with the idea of competitive swimming.

Since then, what has transpired for the 18-year-old swimmer from Burlington is summed up in one word - phenomenal. Her success, remarkable in many ways, is a testament to her ability, fortitude and determination to be the best she can.

Cosgriffe is now a name heard at swimming events around the world.

She’s ranked No. 2 in the 100 metre butterfly - and inching closer to Great Britain’s Faye Rogers, who holds the world title. There’s about one second separating the two swimmers. The showdown could very well happen at the 2024 Paralympic Games taking place from August 28 to September 8 in Paris.

Cosgriffe is making her inaugural trip to the Paralympics – an event that will attract elite athletes from dozens of countries. Ditto for Rogers, who was an able-bodied swimmer and competed at the 2021 Olympic Trials but was involved in a car accident which resulted in limited movement in her elbow.

Worth noting is that Cosgriffe had competed with able bodied swimmers until she found out, at age 15, she had a common neurological condition. In 2021, Cosgriffe was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT). Medical

terminology describes it as a progressive disease of the peripheral nerves that causes sensations, and loss of normal functions, in the feet, arms, hands and legs.

The two compete in the S10 classification, which is governed by World Para Swimming. Categorizing swimmers based on their level of ability, this class involves para swimmers who have the highest functional ability while still meeting the criteria to be eligible for paraswimming.

Cosgriffe was dominant at the Canadian Paralympic Trials in May held at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. She competed in five events, won two gold medals, a bronze and had personal best times in each race. The dominant event, the 100-metres butterfly, saw her finish in a championship time of one minute, 06.75 seconds.

So, what did she do seconds after the finish?

Cosgriffe glanced up at the scoreboard to check the results.

“I improved my time, broke my Canadian record and solidified my chances of making the Canadian team,” she said, acknowledging a boisterous crowd. “For a bit, it was all a blur. I was happy with my performance, and I did what was always in the plan – to make it to Paris.”

Cosgriffe had to wait an entire week before getting the official news that her name would be on the Canadian contingent. That other gold medal she won, came in the 100-metres backstroke finishing in 1:08.51 – which just might be one of the fastest times this season.

In France, Cosgriffe is expecting to compete in both events, and maybe a relay.

“Medals aren’t everything, I’d be happy with top three finishes (at the Paralympics) and improving on my times from last year’s World championships,” said Cosgriffe, who practices between 10 and 16 hours a week and primarily at the Iroquois Ridge Community Centre in Oakville. “It’s surreal, I’m going to Paris. It’s going to be lots of fun and I’m looking forward to swimming for Canada and meeting others.”

With her current impressive showing, there is a tendency to forget about her miraculous performances in the past 24 months. Her first major meet was in 2022 in Victoria, B.C., at the Canadian Paralympic Trials. She won two medals, which included a gold in the 100-metres butterfly and bronze in the 400-metres freestyle. Ontario didn’t waste any time selecting her for the Canada Games in the Niagara region.

Then, in her debut at the Para Swimming World Championships, and in the S10 classification, Cosgriffe helped the 4 x 100-metres mixed medley relay set a Canadian record with a time of 4:42.32. Individually, she finished fourth in the 100-metres butterfly, and fifth in the 100-metres backstroke.

In 2023, at the Bell Canadian Swim Trials in Toronto, Cosgriffe earned a gold in the women’s 100-metres butterfly, a silver in 100-metres backstroke and bronze in 200-metres individual medley. She also set a Canadian S10 record of 1:08.68 in the 100-metres butterfly, while also placing in the top five in the 50, 100 and 400-metres freestyle finals.

Going into those Trials, a year ago, she had no international classification. That raised many questions. Concerns were resolved at the City Para World Series in Minneapolis, Minn. a few weeks later.

“I knew there was a possibility I could be classed out,” she was reported to have said. “Just because I’m a high 10, and I haven’t been a Para swimmer for very long. So, I didn’t know if I would have enough impairment or not.”

“I know that my coaches, they were thinking about that, and they were worried. I was trying not to focus on that, and I just wanted to look into the future and hoping to go to worlds.”

At the 2022 Canada Games, as a 16-year-old, there were seven trips to the podium to receive medals. Six gold and a silver. There were also notable achievements in World Series swim meets held in the United States and France in 2023 as well as the 2024 events in Scotland and Germany.

“I’m definitely swimming now the best that I have ever been – but there are still lots to improve,” said Cosgriffe, who has been a competitive swimmer since she was nine years old. “I’m at a new swim club (Oakville Aquatic Club), and my coach is a huge part of my success.”

Having graduated from high school, Cosgriffe won’t have much time after the Paralympics as she starts a double degree academic program. In September at Wilfrid Laurier University, she’ll be studying Business Administration. Across the road at the University of Waterloo, Cosgriffe will focus on a Mathematical Finance degree.

David Grossman is a veteran multi award-winning Journalist and Broadcaster with some of Canada’s major media, including the Toronto Star and SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN, and a Public Relations professional for 50+ years in Canadian sports and Government relations.