Sam Bramham
D.O.B: 23 May 1988
Sport: Swimming
Class: S9
Disability: Above-knee amputee
Honours:
2004, 2005 and 2006 Leader Newspapers Award of Excellence
2005 Ambassador Pacific School Games
2005 Sportsmanship Award Pacific School Games
2006 & 2007 Telstra Australian All Star Team (able and disabled combined)
Achievements: 1999 - Perth Wheelchair Games (Gold 100m Butterfly, Silver 100m
Freestyle, Silver 50m Freestyle)
2000 - Sydney Pan Pacific School Games (Gold 100m Butterfly, Silver 100m & 50m Freestyle)
2001 - Brisbane Wheelchair Games (Gold 100m Butterfly, Gold 100m Freestyle)
2003 - Argentina Pan Americanos Games (Bronze 100m Butterfly)
2004 - Athens Paralympics (Bronze 100m Butterfly, Gold 4x100m Medlay Relay, Silver 4x100m Freestyle relay)
2005 - American Paralympic Championships (Gold 100m Freestyle, Silver 100m & 50m Freestyle)
2005 - Melbourne Pacific School Games (Gold 100m Butterfly)
2005 - Berlin Open Championships (Gold, World Record 100m Butterfly, Gold 100m & 50m Freestyle)
2006 - Melbourne Commonwealth Games (6th 100m Freestyle, 4th 50m Freestyle)
2006 - South African IPC World Championships (Injured) (4th 100m Butterfly)
2007 - Canadian Tour (Gold 100m Butterfly, Gold 400m Freestyle, Bronze 100m Freestyle)
2007 - Sydney Open Water Championships (Gold 5km Freestyle)
2008 - Beijing Olympics (Gold Men's 4x100m Medley Relay, Silver in the 4x100m Freestyle, 4th 400m Freestyle)
2009 - Order of Australia Medal
At just 20 years of age Sam has achieved Paralympic, World Championship, Commonwealth Games and world record glory.
Born without a right femur, Sam became an above-knee amputee at age five. Despite his disability, Sam has shown amazing courage and determination to succeed in his chosen sport.
Sam followed his passion and determination for swimming to be a success, not just in disabled swimming but also able-bodied. In 2007 Sam competed in the able-bodied Queensland and Victorian State Championships, and proved his swimming talent by being placed in the finals in the Victorian State Championships for 100m butterfly and 400m freestyle.
In 2004 and at just 16 years of age, Sam completed at the Paralympic Games in Athens where be broke the world record in his 100m Butterfly heat. Unfortunately for Sam, he was only able to hold the record for five hours, as it was broken yet again and managed to secure bronze in the final. In 2007 Sam was determined to claim the record back, and did exactly that at the 2007 Berlin Swimming World Cup Opens when he broke the 100m butterfly record for the second time. Sam was fortunate enough to hold this record from December 2007 – Jan 2008.
Following his representation for Australia in the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, Sam won a gold and silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the Men’s Medley Relay & Freestyle Relay respectively. This young swimming sensation also managed to break the record in the Men’s 400m Freestyle, recording a time of 4:21.35.
In 2009, Sam's outstanding performance in Beijing was recognised when he was awarded with a medal of Australian Order.
Sam has completed a public speaking course and has presented to schools, businesses, councils and community leaders alike about developing self-belief and confidence, overcoming adversity and goal setting. With a truly unique story to be told, Sam is a great motivational speaker and an inspiration to others to encourage people to follow their dreams.
Should you require further information or wish to utlise Sam for an appearance, please contact Kathryn Cotsopoulos at kathryn.cotsopoulos@stridesports.com.au.