Jessica Smith (swimmer) explained

Jessica Tace Smith is an Australian Paralympic swimmer and motivational speaker.

Swimming

Smith swam for Australia for seven years and represented Australia at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece.[1]

Motivational speaking and body image advocacy

Smith began working with the Butterfly Foundation as a body image advocate. She now works professionally as an MC, and motivational and public speaker.[2]

Author

Published in July 2015, Little Miss Jessica Goes to School is a children's book written by Smith as a resource for children with a hand or arm difference.[3]

Awards

Smith was awarded an OAM in 2019 for service to the community.[4] [5]

In 2017 she was named a Cosmopolitan Woman of the Year as a Game Changer.[6]

She was named an Emerging Leader by the Australian Government at the Positive Body Image Awards, and received a Pride of Australia Medal in Western Australia. In 2015, she was a state finalist for Young Australian of the Year.

Personal life

Smith was born without her left forearm. As a young child she sustained serious burns to 15% of her body. In her teens she overcame an eating disorder and depression.[7]

Smith married Hamid Salamati in 2015[8] and has three children.[9] She later converted to her husband's religion of Islam, at his family's request.[10]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 29 July 2015. Jessica Smith's journey from disability to self-acceptance. 18 June 2020. www.abc.net.au. en-AU.
  2. Web site: Jessica Smith. Saxton Speakers. en-AU. 1 March 2020.
  3. Web site: Little Miss Jessica Goes to School (Hardback). The Aussie Hands Foundation Inc.. en-US. 1 March 2020.
  4. Web site: One Grafton local honoured with OAM. Hourigan. Adam. Daily Examiner. en. 1 March 2020.
  5. Web site: Jessica Tace SMITH. It's an Honour. 3 March 2020.
  6. Web site: COSMOPOLITAN celebrates the 2017 Women of the Year Award Winners. 31 May 2017. Bauer Media Advertising. en-US. 1 March 2020.
  7. News: Lavalette. Tristan. Jessica Smith uses Paralympic pain to fight body image dangers. 12 September 2013. The Guardian. 1 March 2020. en-GB. 0261-3077.
  8. Web site: Paralympic swimmer's perfect day. 4 May 2015. www.dailytelegraph.com.au. en. 1 March 2020.
  9. Web site: ABOUT. JESSICA SMITH - OAM. en-US. 1 March 2020.
  10. Web site: Paralympian Jessica Smith converted to Islam for her husband's family. . MamaMia . 3 December 2020 . 12 March 2017.