Seventeen-year-old Paralympic swimmer Katarina Roxon will be leaving her small town of Kippens, Newfoundland to return to her Indian roots to compete at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.

This small-town girl has been living her “big dream” and in the process has been making a name for herself, and her province, in the pool and on the track. She has already competed at several World Championships for swimmers with a disability, and in 2008, stood on the start blocks in Beijing to compete at her first Paralympic Games. During the past five years, Roxon has broken several national and world records.

In the off-season, she likes to keep fit on the track and her competitiveness and athletic abilities have quickly steered her to higher goals. This summer, she claimed the national title in the 100, 200 and 400m events in the T46 category while setting a new national record in the 400 and qualifying for the IPC World Track and Field Championships.

But for Roxon, competing for her country in the pool at the Commonwealth Games will be an important conquest on its own. It will be her first meet where she gets to team up with internationally renowned swimmers like Olympic bronze medalist Ryan Cochrane, world record holder Annamay Pierse and former world champion, Brent Hayden.

For Canadian swimmers, the Commonwealth Games is the only international meet in which swimmers with a disability are integrated into the competition program.

At these Games, Roxon will be competing in the 50 and 100 freestyle events as well as the 100-metre butterfly. With a large Canadian fan base cheering her on, she will most likely also get applause from the local Indian public.

Picture – Courtesy of Swimming Canada

Roxon was born in Canada, but her mother Lisa and father Leonard both originate from India. They travelled to Canada in 1990 for a one-year work contract and loved their surroundings so much, that they decided to make it home for their two daughters Katarina and Miranda, 18.

Since then, they have established a successful physiotherapy clinic in Stephenville, Newfoundland, were they also coach swimming at a local club where both girls swim.

Most recently, Katarina embarked in her senior high school year in Stephenville, although she will take some of her work with her on the road to India, where she will hopefully get to reunite with family members and stand on the podium for her country.

Click HERE for more information on the Commonwealth Games.