MICHAEL Auprince has been announced as Lithgow’s Australia Day Ambassador in 2015.
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A Paralympic swimmer, Michael competed in London in 2012 where he won a gold and bronze medal in the freestyle and medley relays.
“Michael will be attending and speaking at the Wallerawang, Portland and Lithgow Australia Day Ceremonies,” Lithgow mayor Maree Statham said.
“I encourage the community to introduce themselves to Michael and make him feel welcome.”
Michael lives in Sydney and first competed for Australia in 2009 and has been a regular member of the Australian Paralympic swim team ever since.
He has travelled extensively with his sport — twice to Canada for the Canadian American Championships, The Netherlands for the 2010 IPC Swimming World Championships and Thailand.
He currently attends the University of Western Sydney and is studying to be an English teacher.
Michael has shone as a swimmer since a young age which saw him dominate the field at the 2011 Age National Championships, winning seven gold medals and one silver.
Michael took up swimming as a form of therapy after he had his left leg amputated.
As well as swimming, Michael is a keen wheelchair basketballer.
He travelled to Dallas, US in 2011 as part of the NSW Junior Wheelchair basketball team and was named Most Valuable Player at the Jim Hayes Memorial Championships.
He is currently part of the Australian under 23 wheelchair basketball squad and while currently dedicating all his time to swimming, would like to play ball professionally overseas in the future.
Michael credits his parents with instilling him with a never-say-die attitude.
