Ruby, Para swimmer
“Swimming is my passion. I’m grateful to have many years of my swimming career ahead of me.”
Ruby has always loved the silky feel of the water flowing across her body. And the faster it flows, the more she loves it.
Competitive swimming has always been an essential part of her life. But at 13, her legs began to weaken. Her muscles continued to decline, affecting her arms, back, neck and face. After she was diagnosed with Upper Motor Disease and Generalized Dystonia, she switched from Synchronized Swimming to Speed Swimming and has been back on the podium three times.
And in January 2023, she was officially diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Complex Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia, but that didn’t stop her from achieving Canada’s first Gold medal at the 2023 Parapan Am Games.
“It took 7 long years to get my diagnosis and I'm just so happy and excited to be here where I want to be!”
“It doesn’t quite feel real, but it feels like a dream come true… I don’t have any words on how excited and how happy I am in this moment […] All the emotions are coming at me all at once. I am so happy and grateful to be given this opportunity.”
Ruby moves for purpose, and her goal of reaching the world level of competition inspires her to keep working hard.
Together with her coach, the famed marathon swimmer and lifelong coach Vicki Keith, Ruby is aiming high - to continue with her winning rhythm at the Canadian Trials to qualify for Team Canada for Paris 2024.
