THIS week the South Eastern Regional College’s Paralympic swimming gold championxa0Bethany Firth from Seaforde, better known in the sports world asxa0a professionalxa0swimmer, is back to porridge.
After setting a newxa0Paralympicxa0record,xa0the 16-year oldxa0returned home last weekxa0andxa0itxa0wasxa0back to college in Newtownards wherexa0shexa0is currentlyxa0completingxa0axa0Cateringxa0and Nutritionxa0qualificationxa0at SERC.
At onlyxa016,xa0Bethany has already wonxa0severalxa0major titlesxa0including winningxa0silverxa0at the 2011 European Championships.
LISTEN TO BETHANY FIRTH ON YOU TUBE
Humblexa0Bethany, who recently had her village post box in Seaforde painted gold in her honour,xa0claimedxa0thexa0Paralympic recordxa0victory for Team Ireland in the 100m backstroke,xa0despite having only been swimming for three years and sustaining a shoulder injuryxa0earlier this year,xa0which had her fitness in doubt on the run up to the London 2012 games!
Commenting on her short time at SERC, Bethany said: “The atmosphere is really good and I have already madexa0lots ofxa0new friends.xa0I just hope I don’t burn anything.
“I am looking forward to learning a new tradexa0andxa0am very proud to havexa0brought a gold medal home with me,” added Bethany.
Bethany, who is still in fullxa0training,xa0explained: “I get up at 4amxa0and train for two hours before coming to SERC. I do the same in the evenings.xa0It’sxa0hard work but I really enjoy it.”
Ken Webbxa0Principal and Chief Executive at SERCxa0said:xa0“We are delighted toxa0welcome Bethany to SERC. I think she will be a real inspiration for the other students and for them to see what can be achieved through hardxa0work;xa0confidence and determinationxa0will be a great motivator for them.
“Everyone, bothxa0here at SERC and in the local community,xa0is extremelyxa0proudxa0of herxa0achievementsxa0and I am delighted she hasxa0chosenxa0SERC as herxa0preferredxa0further education college. I would like toxa0take this opportunity to wish Bethany and all the new studentsxa0who have started SERC this year,xa0every success inxa0theirxa0studies.”
Bethany said she hopes her achievement will inspirexa0the younger generations andxa0anyone withxa0axa0physical orxa0learningxa0difficultyxa0to get involved with sport.
(Forxa0more information about the range of courses availablexa0at SERCxa0please visit xa0www.serc.ac.ukxa0orxa0call 0845xa0600 7555.)
