Hero’s return for golden Bethany

Hero’s return for golden Bethany

21 September 2016

GOLDEN girl Bethany Firth jetted in from the Paralympic Games in Rio yesterday afternoon with a crock of goal in tow.

In the space of nine unforgettable days, the Seaforde girl won three gold medals and a silver medal to become the most successful Team GB athlete at the Games.

In the process she set two new world records and a new Paralympic record.

Bethany, who competed in the S14 class for swimmers with an intellectual disability, said afterwards: “I wanted to do something special and I’m so happy with my performance.”

Her gold run began when she successfully defended the S14 100m backstroke title she won in London four years while competing for Ireland.

Three days later she was on top of the podium again when she blew away the rest of the field in the S14 200m freestyle final.

She was back on the pool last Wednesday evening and claimed a fantastic silver medal in the 100m breaststroke — her weakest event.

She completed a memorable Games on Saturday night by completing a hat-trick of golds in the 200m individual medley.

Afterwards Bethany paid tribute to her team-mates, including Oliver Hynd and Hannah Russell, who also struck gold.

“We were all really encouraging each other,” she said. “There were a lot of different sports and people doing well in them. We also had a lot of support at the pool and the noise was amazing there.

“We’re such a good team, Great Britain were really pushing each other on. “When we saw Ollie win his gold and Hannah win the gold, it just sort of pushes us all on.

“I am so happy with everything I have achieved here. The medals all mean the same to me. I trained really hard in all four strokes and I am just really happy that I got them.”

She added: “I am so happy with everything I have achieved here.