Bethany Firth

Bethany Firth is a Northern Irish professional swimmer, born on February 14, 1996, in Seaforde, County Down. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest Paralympic swimmers of all time. Firth began her professional career with Ards Swimming Club before moving to the National Performance Centre in Manchester in 2014, where she has won multiple titles, including four Paralympic gold medals.

Firth is known for her incredible speed, strength, and versatility in the pool. She has won numerous individual awards and holds multiple records, such as being the first female swimmer to win three golds in a single Paralympics for Team GB.

Off the pool, Firth is also recognized for her influence, inspiring millions worldwide and championing mental health awareness.

Ards Swimming Club

• Youth and Early Career: Firth was born and raised in County Down, Northern Ireland, and joined Ards Swimming Club. She made a significant impact in her early career, showing promise and determination.

National Performance Centre, Manchester

• Success: Firth moved to the National Performance Centre in Manchester in 2014. Under the guidance of her coaches, she developed into one of the world's best Paralympic swimmers, winning multiple Paralympic gold medals and setting world records.

Paralympics

• Debut: Made her debut for Ireland in the 2012 Paralympics.
• Switched to Team GB: In 2014, Firth switched to compete for Great Britain.

Achievements:

• London 2012 Paralympics: Gold medal in the 100m backstroke for Ireland.
• Rio 2016 Paralympics: Three golds and one silver for Team GB, setting two world records.
• Tokyo 2020 Paralympics: One gold and two silver medals for Team GB.

• Events: Primarily competes in backstroke, freestyle, and individual medley events.
• Skills: Known for her incredible speed, strength, and versatility in the pool. Firth is celebrated for her powerful strokes and determination.

• Family: Firth is the youngest of three children in her family.
• Mental Health Advocate: Firth, who has learning difficulties, is an active advocate for mental health and often speaks about the importance of mental wellbeing.

• Bethany Firth is celebrated not only for her extraordinary talent and numerous records but also for her determination and longevity in professional swimming. Her impact on the sport and her status as an icon extend beyond the pool, inspiring millions of fans around the world.

Paralympic Medals:

• Five gold and three silver medals across three Paralympic Games

World Records:

• Set multiple world records in her career

Books

• None currently available.

Websites

• Paralympics GB: Information about Bethany Firth’s international career and achievements. Available at: https://paralympics.org.uk
• Swim Ireland: Details about Firth’s early career in Ireland. Available at: https://www.swimireland.ie
• British Swimming: Official site with updates on Firth’s performance and records. Available at: https://www.britishswimming.org

Articles

• BBC Sport: Bethany Firth: Career in numbers. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/sport/swimming/57882048
• The Guardian: Bethany Firth’s career highlights and records. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/aug/28/bethany-firth-gb-swimming-paralympics

Interviews and Documentaries

• Various interviews and features on Bethany Firth, covering different aspects of her career. Available at: https://www.paralympic.org