Bethany Firth

Para Swimming

Region

Seaforde, Northern Ireland
Date of Birth

14/02/1996
Classification

S14

Bethany Firth is a Paralympic Champion who made her Games debut for ParalympicsGB in Rio, having represented Ireland on her Games debut at London 2012.

Firth was just 16 years old when she clinched Paralympic gold in the 100m backstroke S14, having won 200m freestyle S14 silver on her IPC Swimming European Championship debut in Berlin the previous season.

In 2013 she won three silver medals on her IPC Swimming World Championship debut in Montreal, touching second in the 100m breaststroke S14, 100m backstroke S14 and the 200m freestyle S14. Before the end of the year Firth took the decision to compete for Great Britain – a choice open to her because she is from Northern Ireland.

Firth was therefore ineligible to compete for Great Britain at the 2014 IPC Swimming European Championships, but she performed well on the domestic stage instead including at the British Para-Swimming International in Glasgow where she won four golds. She also competed in six individual events and two relays for Northern Ireland at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games

She had an impressive year in 2015 taking three medals at the British Para-Swimming International meet in Glasgow, coming away with two golds and a silver and qualifying for her second IPC Swimming World Championships.

Unfortunately she was forced to withdraw after breaking her wrist but she returned to the international stage when she competed at the 2016 IPC Swimming European Championships, winning two silver medals.

At Rio 2016 Firth claimed three gold medals in the 100m backstroke, 200m freestyle, 200m medley and a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke.

At her third Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Firth once again defended her S14 100m backstroke title from London and Rio, while also winning gold in the 4x100m S14 mixed freestyle relay and silvers in the 200m freestyle and 200m individual medley.

Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games

100m backstroke S14: Gold
200m freestyle S14: Silver
200m individual medley SM14: Silver
4x100m mixed freestyle relay S14: Gold

Rio 2016 Paralympic Games

100m backstroke S14: Gold
100m breaststroke S14: Silver
200m freestyle S14: Gold
200m individual medley SM14: Gold

London 2012 Paralympic Games

100m backstroke S14: Gold

London 2019 World Para Swimming Championships

100m backstroke S14: Gold
200m freestyle S14: Silver
200m individual medley S14: Silver
4x100m mixed freestyle relay S14: Gold

Montreal 2013 World Para Swimming Championships

100m backstroke S14: Silver
100m breaststroke SB14: Silver
200m freestyle S14: Silver

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