Biographical entry: Carlton, Melissa (1978 - )
OAM
- Born
- 1978
South Africa - Occupation
- Athlete
Details
Melissa Paula Carlton, paralympian, was born in South Africa and educated in Hobart. Born without a right leg, she obtained her first artificial leg at the age of one. A champion swimmer, she has won nine Olympic medals at two Paralympic Games, in 1996 and 2000, in freestyle, butterfly and backstroke races, winning gold in 1996 in the 400 metres freestyle and the 4x100 metres freestyle relay. Melissa has won other medals in world championships, and a number of awards, including Tasmanian Sportswoman of the Year (1996) and the Order of Australia (1996).
Tasmania's best known disabled athlete, Melissa Carlton is patron or ambassador for a number of community groups, ranging from the association for Children with a Disability, to Clean Up Australia Day.
Alison Alexander