Terence Parkin

Parkins, who was born deaf but was not diagnosed until he was 18-months old,^[8] was the first-born child to his parents, who both lived fully hearing.^[9] According to the two, Neville and Bev - who provided the primary source of support throughout his personal and athletic life^[10] - Parkin reflected an affinity for swimming as early as age twelve.^[11] Parkin grew up with a sister who was also born without any auditory impairments.^[9] Terence has reported that his family is not fluent in any particular sign language and instead communicates through a mixture of home-made signs and oral gestures.^[9]

Parkin was introduced to swimming during his attendance at the Fulton School for the Deaf in KwaZulu-Natal, which teaches South African Sign Language as its primary language and English as secondary.^[12][13] Aiming away from practices of Oralism that have shaped many aspects of both the school's history and deaf history across greater South Africa,^[14] it is at this school that students such as Parkin have been exposed to a bilingual approach of communication that incorporates elements of both South African Sign Language and English.^[15]

In his time at Fulton School for the Deaf, reporters suggest that Parkin held an increased level of dominance over other swimmers due to the fact that he relied on his elevated visual and spatial awareness during water movement.^[10]

Parkin resides with his wife and two children in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he serves a sports coach at St. Vincent School for the Deaf.^[16] He is widely regarded as an inspiration to many young people, often sharing motivational messages such as 'The worst disability is a bad attitude!'"^[16]

In 2011, Parkin saved a young boy from drowning.^[17] Reports say the seven-year-old was submerged underwater for close to three minutes until Parkin, his swim coach, got him out of the water.^[18]

Parkin now stays active by participating in cycling, running, and swimming marathons for charitable purposes.^[16]

The largest boost in Parkin's 15-year sporting career^[19] was set forth when he qualified for the South African national swimming team.^[10] From there, Parkin would make his first major mark in swimming history at the Midmar Mile, which is held in South Africa and is the "world's largest open-water swimming event".^[20] At age 17, he competed in his first Deaflympic games, taking seven medals in total (five gold, two silver). Three years later, Parkin competed as the only deaf swimmer in his first Olympic games. Unable to hear the crowd's standing ovation or the commentator's announcements of the final results, Parkin noticed moments after the 200-meter breaststroke that he had scored an Olympic silver medal.^[21]

Parkin, eventually claiming title as the most decorated sportsman in Deaflympics history,^[19] has been described as inspiring fellow athletes such as Roland Schoeman, who follow in the footsteps of Parkin's notoriety for an intense dedication to rigorous training regimens.^[22]

Beyond his Olympic and Deaflympic records, Parkin was also crowned World Deaf Sportsman of the Year in 1997, 2000, 2001, and 2005. Additional awards include CISS Sportsman of the Century in 2000, SA Schools' Sportsman of the Year in 2002, and Gold Presidential Awards across 2000, 2001, and 2002.^[19]

Parkin has also been known for his feats across championships of cycling and triathlons, winning first place in the 2005 World Deaf Cycling Championships’ 120km road race in California.^[22] Locally, Parkin has also been known to compete in miscellaneous sporting events such as the Dusi Canoe Marathon and the 94.7 Cycle Challenge.^[19]

Throughout his competitions in the Olympics, Deaflympics, World Cup and Pan Pacific Competitions,^[23] Parkin was driven by a desire to show the world that deaf athletes are just as capable as their hearing counterparts.^[23] Parkin aimed to be a powerful example of the opportunities available to the Deaf community.

During a race, Parkin was reported to attempt to utilize a waterproof hearing aid while in the water. Afterward, he claimed that the crowd noise was highly distracting and that an absence of noise allowed him to focus on solely the race itself.^[24]

Beyond his career in swimming, Parkin has also been known to compete in triathlons and cycling events, even winning the 120km gold medal at the World Cycling Championship for the Deaf.^[25]

Parkin competed in his first Olympic games in 2000 at the age of 20 and used sign language to communicate with his coach. About his trip to the Olympics, Parkin said "I am going to the Olympics to represent South Africa, but it's so vitally important for me to go, to show that the deaf can do anything. They can't hear, they can see everything. I would like to show the world that there's opportunities for the deaf."^[26]

Recently, Parkin has been honored by The Princess Charlene Foundation by being granted the position of Global Ambassador of The Deaf and Blind. Her Serene Highness, Princess Charlene, an accomplished philanthropist in her own right, chose Parkin because of his indominable will to overcome any obstacle in his way. Using the resources granted to him in his position, Parkin has traveled the world and given talks about swimming safety. These talks include teaching children how to swim and how to avoid drowning. Some countries he has been to on behalf of the foundation are Russia, Pakistan, China, Australia and the Philippines.^[27]

Aside from his talks to children, Parkin has also taught classes on CPR, making him the only deaf CPR coach in South Africa.^[28] Parkin has also entered "1120 km Epic Challenge", a test of physical endurance, to fund raise for the Princess Charlene Foundation. Additional fundraisers Parkin has participated in include biking from Johannesburg to Midmar, running from Midmar Dam to the start of the Dusi Canoe Marathon, as well as the Dusi Canoe Marathon itself. His philanthropic endeavors have raised approximately R54 820,00 which equals to roughly $300,000. Doners to The Princess Charlene Foundation can be quoted, praising Parkin for his unshakable resolve as he raised money by participating in physically grueling challenges for the sake of the deaf community that he represents.^[28]

As of August 2024, Terrence Parkin was inducted into the Princess Charlene Foundation's Hall of fame due to his various philanthropic endeavors and illustrious career. In a gesture of respect and selflessness, Parkin also donated one of his Olympic silver medals to the hall of fame, which stands as a physical representation of the indominable human will. His medal not only signifies his success as an Olympian, but it exudes inspiration to the community.^[29]

50m Swimming Pool

• 200m breaststroke (2:12.50)
• 200m Individual Medley (2:03.33)
• 400m Individual Medley (4:16.92)

25m Swimming Pool

• 400m Freestyle (3:55.68)
• 800m Freestyle (8:07.36)
• 100m Backstroke (58.31)
• 200m Backstroke (2:02.83)
• 200m Breaststroke (2:08.91)
• 200m Medley (1:58.64)
• 400m Medley (4:10.39)

Other significant stats (not new world records)

• 100m Freestyle (50.77) 21 Nov 2009
• 1500m Freestyle (15:22.28) 17 Oct 2009
• 200m Backstroke (2:00.60) 6 Dec 2003
• 200m Breaststroke (2:07.91) 19 Mar 2000
• 50m Butterfly (25.14) 21 Nov 2009
• 200m Medley (1:57.87) 2 Feb 2000

50m Swimming Pool

• 100m breaststroke (1:03.51) 2009
• 200m breaststroke (2:16.32) 2009