Karen McPherson (swimmer)

McPherson became paraplegic in infancy, after surviving polio.^[2] She used arm crutches, leg braces, and a wheelchair.^[3][4] She was a student at Vancouver's Little Flower Academy,^[4][1] and attended Vancouver City College.^[5]

McPherson competed in the first Pan American Wheelchair Games, held in Winnipeg in 1967, and won seven gold medals in swimming events.^[4][6] She won three medals in the 1968 Summer Paralympics, held in Tel Aviv.^[1][7] She was the youngest British Columbian on the Canadian national team.^[8] In 1969, she swam on a relay team with Gwen John, Hilda Binns, and Elaine Ell,^[9] and won seven medals at the Pan-American Wheelchair Games in Buenos Aires.^[5][10] In 1971 she competed in the Western Washington Wheelchair Games in Seattle, setting a record in the backstroke event.^[3] In 1973, she broke two national records at the B.C. Wheelchair Games.^[11][12] She held seven national Canadian records in 1974,^[13]

McPherson was nominated for Junior Athlete of the Year by the Vancouver Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1969.^[14] She was active in the British Columbia Wheelchair Sports Association in its early years.^[3]