This month, Casey Petrie, pictured with her first Special Olympics gold medal, will take a plunge into the Murray River — all to raise money for a good cause.
Photo by
Owen Sinclair
Casey Petrie is about to take the plunge for a good cause.
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On Monday, August 11, Casey will swim in the frigid waters of the Murray River as part of the 2025 Polar Plunge with the Special Olympics Australia.
Though it might just take her breath away, the Murray River’s temperature is not enough to put her off.
“I was thinking about it yesterday and I thought, ‘Oh my God, it’s going to be so cold!’,” Casey said.
“But I’m going to wear one of my onesies, so it should be fine — until I get wet.”
Her swim in the river aims to raise awareness and money for the Special Olympics Australia, an organisation that promotes the joys of sport for people with an intellectual disability.
Casey in action at the Melbourne Inner East Games in July.
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Contributed
A veteran of competitive swimming, Casey has won at least 100 medals in the water since her first Special Olympics in Newcastle, NSW, 20 years ago.
“I’ve got a full bag full, so probably close to 100. Silver, gold, bronze, all of them,” she said.
Her favourite stroke is backstroke.
“I used to hate it, but now I think I’m really good at it because I know that once I see the flags, that’s when I start counting so that I don’t hit my head,” she said.
Casey has been training hard for the upcoming Special Olympics State Games in Ballarat in October.
She loves the inclusiveness of the annual event, which brings together athletes with an intellectual disability for two days of swimming, athletics and many other sports.
“Everyone is so inclusive and lovely,” she said.
“I enjoy meeting people, the racing side of it, and cheering others on.
“I know that’s really important.”
Out of the pool, Casey plays basketball and netball and works as a waitress at Sporties Barooga.
She also rides horses every second Thursday with Riding for the Disabled, a not-for-profit, volunteer-run organisation that unites the four-legged creatures with people who live with disability.
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