Morgan Bird | |
Nickname: | Birdie |
Sport: | Paralympic swimming |
Disability: | Cerebral palsy |
Disability Class: | S8 |
Coach: | Mike Thompson |
Birth Date: | September 6, 1993 |
Birth Place: | Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada |
Residence: | Montreal, Quebec |
Height: | 163cm |
Morgan Bird (born September 6, 1993) is a Canadian Paralympic swimmer who competes in international level events, she specialises in freestyle. She won a bronze medal, at the 2020 Summer Paralympics, in Women's 34pts 4x100m relay.[1] She is a double Parapan American Games champion and double World silver medalist.[2] [3] [4]
Morgan Bird was born in Regina, Saskatchewan in 1993 to parents Garth and Heidi Bird.[5] She was born with cerebral palsy affecting the left side of her body.[6] She began swimming as physiotherapy for her cerebral palsy[7] and started swimming competitively at age 11. She has a bachelor of child studies from Mount Royal University in Calgary.[8]
Bird made her Paralympic debut at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. She placed fourth in the women's 400 m freestyle S8. Alongside four members of Canada's 2012 Olympic Team and 10 fellow members Canada's Paralympic Team, she received a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal later that year.[9] She won her first international medal at the 2013 IPC World Championships, winning bronze in both the 50m freestyle and in the relay.
Bird placed fourth in the S8 100-m freestyle at the 2014 Commonwealth Games At the 2015 Parapan American Games, she won gold in both the women's 400-metre freestyle S8 and 50-metre freestyle S8.[10] She also won silver in the women's S8 100-metre freestyle.[11] She placed fifth in the S8100-m freestyle at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Bird won silver in the women’s 50m freestyle S8 at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.[12] Also at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Bird moved up a category and competed in the S9 women's 100-m freestyle.
On a team with Katarina Roxon, Sabrina Duchesne, and Aurelie Rivard, Bird swam the opening leg and won a bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Paralympics, in Women's 34pts 4x100m relay.[13] [14]
Bird announced her retirement from competitive para-swimming in 2021.[15]