Surgery inspires Sam to make a big splash at Dwarf Games

Sam Kimberley has won three gold medals at the World Dwarf Games in Michigan, USA.

The Port Kennedy teenager, representing Australia, hit the wall first in the 13 to 15-year-old freestyle, butterfly and 100m individual medley events.

Nikki Peak, who trained Sam in the lead-up to the games, said the 15-year-old started his swimming career with the Warnbro Pelicans where he swam for six years.

Peak said she encouraged Sam, who has the bone disorder achondroplasia, to enter the World Dwarf Games.

Speaking from home in Port Kennedy last week after hearing of his grandson’s success, grandfather Jim Emonds said Sam had struggled a lot with dwarfism.

“Sam’s been in hospital quite a lot in his life and his last major surgery he had bolts and rods attached to his knee, and had about 13 or 14 rods inserted in his spine,” he said.

Emonds said his grandson was in hospital for a while, then a wheelchair, and had a brace around his upper torso, but he never stopped being a fighter nor complained once.

Instead of deterring him, surgery was the inspiration that drove Sam’s recovery.

Emonds said it was Sam’s first entry to the games and believed he would compete again in four years.

He said his grandson’s dream was to compete in the Olympics and represent his country.

Sam was the only WA representative in the 33-strong Australian team.

Australia finished third in the medal tally behind Great Britain and USA, bringing home 76 medals.

Sam returns home next Tuesday.