Three years after near-death emergency, Aussie wins gold

PARIS: Freshly minted Australian Paralympic gold medallist Thomas Gallagher enjoyed a moment on Friday morning (AEST) that in Tokyo three years ago he was robbed of by a pancreatic attack that almost claimed his life.
The Sunshine Coast swimmer won Paralympic bronze in the men’s 400m freestyle S10 in Tokyo, but was stripped of his chance to stand on the podium when a long-running battle with pancreatitis reared its head in a drastic way.
Floored by excruciating pain, he was rushed to hospital, where he remained bed-ridden for about a month.
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But on the opening night of competition in Paris, the 25-year-old won Paralympic gold — Australia’s first gold medal of the Games — and seized his moment on the podium.
He triumphed in the 50m freestyle S10 with a time of 23.40 seconds, ahead of Brazilian silver medallist Phelipe Andrews Melo Rodrigues (23.54) and Australian bronze medallist Rowan Crothers (23.79).
Thomas Gallagher celebrates winning gold in Paris. Getty Images
Casting his mind back to his traumatic experience in Tokyo, Gallagher admitted the wait for the Paris Games medal ceremony was anxious.
“A bit of PTSD sneaks back in,” he told reporters in the media mixed zone.
“But I’m just happy to be on the podium for once.
“I’m a new athlete nowadays and I don’t let the past affect my present.
“I had a lot of medical issues with my pancreas. After the 400m [in Tokyo] I ended up in hospital for about a month and nearly died. I luckily had a surgery … and fixed it all.
“It was amazing [being on the podium]. It definitely takes a lot for me to get emotional and it takes a lot for me to be proud of myself, and just standing there I really just tried to enjoy the moment.”
When his Tokyo pancreatic attack hit, his heart rate rocketed to 240 beats per minute and his organs began shutting down.
“I did all the interviews, it was all sweet, and then it hit me like a train,” he told media last year.
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Over the course of many years during his time in surf life saving and swimming, he was urged to give up sport by loved ones and medical professionals.
“It was at the stage where I’d been close to dying many times, so I could understand why everyone wanted me to quit,” he said.
“People were saying, ‘You’ve got to put your life first’.
“Even at the surf club, before I was swimming, I was told to stop and I didn’t. I just love training and competing too much.”
Awaiting him in Paris are the 100m freestyle S10 and 100m backstroke S10 events.
“I am proud of myself and that is pretty rare for me because I am my harshest critic,” Gallagher said.
“But I’m more proud of the people around me who’ve stuck by me.”
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