| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | (2007-04-11)11 April 2007 (age 18) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Paralympic swimming | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Disability class | S8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Event | s8 100 free | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Flinders Phoenix SC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Chris Wright | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National finals | 1st in 100free | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Highest world ranking | 1st in 100 free | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Callum SimpsonOAM (born 11 April 2007) is an AustralianParalympic swimmer. At the2024 Paris Paralympics, he won two gold and one silver medal.[1] At the2025 World Para Swimming Championships, he won three gold, one silver and one bronze medals.
Simpson was born withmicrodeletion syndrome – a chromosomal abnormality and genetic disorder which causes learning delay and physical flow-on effects – which causes his left and right side not to work in unison. He also hasdyspraxia, neurological disorders, and cerebral palsy.[2] Simpson attendsMatthew Flinders Anglican College,Buderim, Queensland.[3] His parents are Bec andNigel Simpson, who represented and captained the England rugby sevens team for many years. Callum has a brother Henry, who is a talented water polo player, and is representing Australia in the surf life saving World Championships in 2024.[4] Callum is ofRotuman heritage from his paternal side which makes him the secondRotuman swimmer to medal at anOlympic Games event afterGreg Fasala.
Simpson was encouraged to take up swimming to strengthen his body and as part of his weekly therapy. Olympian and swim coachJanelle Pallister played an important role in his early swimming development. After strong performances at national swimming championships, he was selected as a member of The Para Flippers Development Squad for 2023.[5] He was selected on the Australian Swim Para Team to compete at Para Swimming European Open Championships inMadeira, Portugal in 2024.[6]
At the2024 Paris Paralympics, Simpson won gold medals in the Men's 100 m freestyle S8 and Mixed4 × 100 m medley 34 pts (heat) and silver medal in the Mixed4 × 100 m freestyle 34 pts.[7]
At the2025 World Para Swimming Championships inSingapore, he won three gold medals - Men's 100m Freestyle S8, Men's 200 m Individual Medley SM8 and Mixed 4 x 100 m Freestyle 34pts, the silver medal in Men's 50m Freestyle S8 and the bronze medal in Men's 400 m Freestyle S8.[8]
He is an active member of the Alexandra Headland Surf Lifesaving Club.[2]
He is coached by Olympic swimmerChris Wright at the Flinders Aquatic Academy inBuderim, Queensland.
