[2] English's outstanding achievements at the National Games gained her a place, at 15 years of age, the youngest athlete of the 30-member strong Australian team, to compete at the 1972 Heidelberg Paralympics.

Many contributors including the Sunday Mirror, the south coast town of Nowra where English was the guest of honour at the fete, Riverwood and Arncliffe Returned Services League of Australia sub-branches, in total raised $4,460.00, donated to the team as a whole.

She felt very ill after the race and said in an interview: "I think I must be the only Olympic gold medallist to win on a medal of hamburger, onion rings, honey buns, and chocolate shake".

In preparation for the 1976 Toronto Paralympics, English trained with her coach Janice Murphy for the five weeks prior to the Games, at Lakehead University Pool, Thunder Bay, Canada.

[10] In April 1979, at 22 years of age, she swam more than 2 km across Sydney Harbour from Luna Park to the Man-O-War steps at the Opera House, in 22 minutes without a shark-proof cage,[11] to raise funds for an indoor stadium at Mount Druitt, for both disabled and able-bodied athletes,[12] the construction of which was to begin late in 1979.

[13] Accompanied by long-distance swimmer Des Renford,[14] and escorted by four volunteer professional divers from Sea Life and Dive Company, English quickly outpaced them.

[11] Rotary and Rotaract Clubs, together with the United Permanent Building Society who campaigned for funds to provide the stadium,[13] invited English to make the swim to publicize the LP album I Believe.