SETON College, Mt Gravatt East, will boast a Special Olympian in its alumnae when senior student Catrin Culla competes at the Special Olympics Summer World Games in Abu Dhabi next March.

A multi-race swimmer, Catrin, whose position on the Australian team has been announced and is awaiting confirmation of her events, is likely to contend sprints in freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke in what will be her first international competition. 

Catrin, who has her eye on medals, said she felt it was more important to swim her best and meet other Australian and international swimmers.

“Medals would be nice," Catrin admits.

“But my goals are to achieve some Personal Bests (PB)and meet other swimmers. 

“And to have fun."

Swimming competitively for only four years, Catrin was part of Special Olympics Redlands that trains at the Clem Jones Centre at Carina.

“I'm working on my upper body strength and working hard at training," she said.

And, while Catrin has her eye on the games, she remained a competitive netballer who was this year asked to try out for the Queensland Para team. 

Between swimming training and completing her senior year of schooling, Catrin felt she has plenty on her plate and so elite-level netball has temporarily taken a back seat in terms of how she budgets her time. 

When she's not in the pool, or on the court, she can be found with family and friends at the movies or at the theatre, the latter Catrin described as “her passion", indicating she may head for drama studies when she finishes school. 

Meanwhile, her lunch breaks and whatever spare moments she can manage are dedicated to rehearsing her multiple roles in the college's forthcoming production of Grease.

“I love working in hospitality, but my passion is acting so Mum and I are investigating drama schools and acting classes now.

“I (also) love communicating with people, so a customer service job would be good," she said.​