FIRTH Bethany

Classification
S14, SB14, SM14 (IPC, 12 Feb 2021)

Type of Impairment
Intellectual impairment (culturenorthernireland.org, 06 Jul 2012)

Impairment Details
She has an intellectual impairment and problems with her memory. "She might remember what she did three weeks ago, but not yesterday. She might recall something from yesterday, but not last week," her mother Lindsey said. (culturenorthernireland.org, 06 Jul 2012)

General
COVID-19 IMPACT
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 she set up a small paddling pool in her back garden and tied herself to the edge with a bungee rope so she could still practise her strokes. "I've actually found it very beneficial, just being able to mirror my stroke. The one thing me and my coach Nelson Lindsay were most worried about during lockdown was me losing the feel for it. You can obviously do a lot of strength and conditioning work but nothing is the same as being in the water. Nelson can monitor my heart rate and stroke rate because of a watch that I wear while I'm in the pool and he can also then send back a video analysis from the clips we send him." (bbc.co.uk, 04 Jun 2020)

FEAR OF WATER
Before taking up swimming lessons at Longstone Special School in Dundonald, Northern Ireland, she was afraid of water after having fallen into a pool while on holiday in Australia when she was age four. Once at high school she had to learn pool safety and take swimming lessons. "I hated it and was so terrified. I wasn't a water person. It was through Longstone pushing me to get involved that I got into swimming and I started to love it. It was an environment where I was good at it. Learning to swim and trying something new really gave me confidence and it helped me make new friends. Swimming has broadened my horizons, allowing me to travel and it has basically changed who I am." (heraldscotland.com, 08 Nov 2019; sportni.net, 06 Nov 2019)

CANCER CHARITY ADVOCATE
She serves as an advocate for Swimathon, an annual swimming event that raises funds for the charities Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie. She became involved with the fundraising event after her mother was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2018. "It was a terrible shock when mum was diagnosed with cancer in 2018. She has been such a source of strength and support for me throughout my life and career. It was a very difficult time but thankfully her treatment was successful and I'm so grateful that she's getting back to full health. My mum's experience means our family understand all too clearly why events such as Swimathon are so vital to support the work of charities like Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie." (renfrewshire24.co.uk, 05 Feb 2020; belfasttelegraph.co.uk, 29 Jan 2020)

REPRESENTING GREAT BRITAIN
Born in Seaforde, Northern Ireland, she represented Ireland at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. In December 2013 she announced her decision to compete for Great Britain instead of Ireland. "This is about Bethany wanting to be with people who she gets on with, who understand her and Team GB have other S14 swimmers who she is friendly with," her mother Lindsey said. (belfasttelegraph.co.uk, 19 Dec 2013)