Sunshine Coast legend honoured for service through swimming

It's a big month for Clinton "Super Fish" Stanley.

The Sunshine Coast resident has been honoured with a Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to people with a disability through swimming, and next week, he will celebrate his 50th birthday.

Over the years, Mr Stanley has raised tens of thousands of dollars to help get himself and other swimmers with Down syndrome to competitions, and for charitable organisations.

Mr Stanley has broken 79 Down syndrome swimming world records, represented Australia at international competitions seven times, and been a patrol member at his local surf lifesaving club for 20 years.

"I feel proud,"

Mr Stanley said.

They say behind every great man is a great woman – and Clinton Stanley is no exception, with his mum, Sue Stanley, there every step of the way to help make his dreams come true.

In the early years of his swimming career, Mrs Stanley founded the Down Syndrome Down Under Swimming Organisation to help create opportunities for her son and other athletes.

She has travelled the world taking teams to the World Down Syndrome Swimming Championships six times and the World Masters Games twice.

"There's nothing more rewarding than seeing an athlete, doesn't matter what sport, achieve at their highest level, especially if they've got a disability," Mrs Stanley said.

Olympian Benny Pike spent more than 32 years as chairman of the Sunshine Coast Sports Association where he worked closely with Mrs Stanley.

Mr Pike said he could sum her up in just one word: "powerhouse".

"I'm just very proud that I'm a friend of hers … I admire her immensely."

Mr Pike said he believed Clinton Stanley got his determination from his mother.

"She's very diligent. If she says she's going to do it, she does it," he said.

"And I think that's been the backbone for him (Clinton) because he says, 'I want to go to a swimming race', she says, 'Right, you're going'.

"She's made sure that her son has not missed anything … that's Sue."

Mr Pike said Mrs Stanley had become a stalwart of the Sunshine Coast sporting community.

"She was helping her son, but she wanted to help others as well. She's just that sort of person," he said.

Mr Pike said Mrs Stanley's devotion to her family was something to behold.

"It was always nice to see him (Clinton) coming across the line or doing a swim race," he said.

"But you only had to look 100 feet away and there was Sue, always there."

Through it all, Mrs Stanely says she is most proud of who her son is.

"Clinton's very humble, and he always likes to go up and congratulate the other person, even if he doesn't win … that's what we've taught him, always to be a good sport," Mrs Stanley said.

"We can't all be winners, but we can all be champions, and that's important."

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