| Krystal Shaw | |
| Fullname: | Krystal Leesa Shaw |
| Sport: | Paralympic swimming |
| Disability: | Arthrogryposis |
| Disability Class: | S7 |
| Club: | Flatland Swimming Club |
| Coach: | Michel Berube Jeff Toth |
| Birth Date: | 14 February 1994 |
| Birth Place: | Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Hometown: | Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Height: | 1.40m |
Krystal Leesa Shaw (born 14 February 1994) is a Canadian Paralympic swimmer who competes in international level events.[1]
When she was born, she was diagnosed with arthrogryposis and was born with club feet, a dislocated hip and underdeveloped legs. She also had gastroschisis and doctors thought that she would never walk however she did manage to walk after having pins in her leg and a metal frame for six months when she was five years old, after many surgeries she took her first steps aged six years old.[2]
Shaw started swimming aged nine when she had to develop her muscles then started competing in major championships aged fourteen, she won two silver medals in a major competition where she competed against swimmers from her native country, United States and Mexico. She competed for Saskatchewan province team in the Canada Games and won a bronze medal. She participated in Canada's national Paralympic swimming team at the 2009 IPC Swimming World Championships. She had to take a seven-year break after developing a blood clot in her leg and was not allowed to swim. She resumed her career after her long break.[3]
Her highest achievement was competing for Canada at the 2019 Parapan American Games where she won four medals in eight events.[4] [5]