James Allan Anderson, a proud Fifer, has been disabled from birth by cerebral palsy. His parents were told not to expect too much from him as he might have learning as well as physical difficulties. They certainly couldn’t have expected their son to go on to be an international swimmer at six paralympics, and countless British, European, and world championships. Over the years, Jim has won over four hundred medals, including six Paralympic golds, nine Paralympic silvers, and two Paralympic bronzes. He has held numerous world records, losing his last one, the one-hundred-meter backstroke set, in 2008, not broken till 2014. He has also been inducted to Scottish Swimming’s Hall of Fame. His parents could not have expected their son to be a globe-trotter, visiting every continent except Antarctica! Nor could they have expected him to be decorated by the queen—not once but twice. In fact, Jim has been successful in several fields of activity, from disco dancing to story writing.
When he retired from competitive swimming after London 2012, Jim felt that he would like to write down his story, although he continues coaching other swimmers, plays boccia, and takes his part in some athletics events.