Lili-Fox Mason started her swimming journey at a young age through learn to swim lessons. Growing up, she found herself participating in primary school swimming carnivals which she really enjoyed as she was able to keep up with the other kids and be pain-free in the water.

While Mason’s interest in competing didn’t come straight away, her interest in competitive swimming grew after joining the Parafed Canterbury squad and attending the Halberg Games. She briefly joined Waitaha Swim Club in 2017 before returning to competition in 2018 with Wharenui Swim Club.

Inspired by her uncle, a passionate open water swimmer, and supported by her family and coaches, Mason was encouraged to pursue the sport competitively.

Training under coach Matt Houston, the teenager made her international debut in 2022 at the Para Swimming World Series in Indianapolis. Only a few months later, Mason debuted as Aquablack #273 at the Para Swimming World Championships in Madeira. The then-17-year-old made finals in the S10 400m freestyle and S10 100m butterfly and went on to finish seventh and eighth in the world, respectively.

In 2023, Mason won her first international medal—bronze in the 400m freestyle—at the Melbourne World Para Series, and was part of the silver-medal-winning mixed 4x100m medley relay (34 pts) in Singapore, a historic first for New Zealand in Para relay events.

Her efforts at the World Series served as a great stepping stone for her second Para Swimming World Championships. At the 2023 Para Swimming World Championships in Manchester, Mason made another pinnacle final in the S10 100m butterfly to finish eighth overall.

After qualifying for the Paralympic Games at the New Zealand Championships in April, Mason made her Paralympic debut at Paris 2024. On debut in Paris, Mason placed 11th in the S10 400m freestyle and 13th in the S10 100m butterfly.

Favourite quote: “If you change the way you look at things, things you look at change.” - Wayne Dyer