| Birth Date: | 1980 4, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Bulawayo, Zimbabwe |
| Coach: | Graham Hill (1993-2004) Wayne Riddin (2005-2006) |
| Full Name: | Terence Parkin |
| Height: | 185 cm |
| Strokes: | Breaststroke Individual Medley |
| Weight: | 85 kg |
| Club: | Seagulls (1993-2004) Seals (2005-2006) |
Terence Mike Parkin (born 12 April 1980 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe) is a swimmer from South Africa, who won the silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in the 200m Breaststroke. Parkin, who is deaf, also competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics, as well as the Deaflympics in which he took home 29 gold medals.[1]
Parkin is the only deaf swimmer to be part of the FINA's elite rankings in 1999 and 2000. He holds the record for winning the most number of medals in Deaflympics history with a total of 33.[2] [3] [4] In 2011, Parkin saved a young boy from drowning.[5]
Parkin competed in his first Olympic games in 2000 at the age of 20. He 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."[6]
50m Swimming Pool
25m Swimming Pool
didn't not put on New World Record
50m Swimming Pool