Local to represent Victoria at Special Olympics

This year’s National Games will be held in Melbourne from Monday, October 19 to Friday, October 23, as Special Olympics Australia celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Casey first competed at club level in March 2025 before finding out in December that she had been selected to represent Victoria.

“I was so shocked, I didn’t expect it because I had to wait so long to find out,” she said.

“I was thinking to myself, ‘There's no way I've made it, I would have been notified by now.’”

Casey will compete in four events at the National Games — the 50m backstroke, 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle and a relay.

As she prepares for the competition, Casey has received donations from the Riding for the Disabled Association, where she volunteers, and Sporties Barooga, where she works.

“The RDA have given me a donation of $200, which has been so good because it’s so hard to fundraise on your own,” she said.

“I was like, ‘Oh my god, I love it, thank you.’”

Sporties Barooga also donated $500 and on the screen as you enter there’s a photo of Casey with the words ‘Go Casey’, and they also have change tins around the club.

“It’s such a good feeling to know that there are people around that love and support you, and I’m so proud to represent Cobram,” Casey said.

For Casey, swimming is about more than competition. She said the sport made her feel free and had given her the opportunity to meet people similar to her.

“The friends that I’ve made and just competing ― I love racing, that’s really fun, apart from the nerves,” she said.

To prepare for the National Games, Casey has been training several times a week with two different coaches, travelling between Tocumwal and Echuca for sessions.

She said she was grateful to her friend Die, who drives her to training each week.

Alongside the physical preparation, Casey said positive self-talk had been an important part of getting herself mentally ready to compete.

“I start thinking, ‘Right, you can do this, you’ve got this,’” she said.

“I put music on, which helps as well to block out people around me.

“I feel pretty ready for it. I’ve been training heaps.”

Now, with another National Games just weeks away, Casey is looking forward to pulling on the Victorian navy blue uniform once again.