A TEENAGE Worcester Swimming Club member has been selected to represent Team GB at this summer’s Rio Paralympic Games.
Becky Redfern, 16, who has a degenerative eye condition called retinitis pigmentosa, will travel to Brazil in September to take part in the 100 metres breaststroke S13 for visually impaired swimmers.
The Paralympian hopeful, who has just finished her GCSEs, spends almost 16 hours a week training in Worcester Swimming Pool, on Sansome Walk, and broke the world record in her distance just three weeks ago.
Undergraduate and master’s students in sports science and coaching at the University of Worcester have voluntarily worked with Redfern, through the institution’s outreach programme.
Rhodri Curtis, a second-year sports science student has been helping Redfern along her 18-month training course.
“It can be tough but it’s worth it. It’s helped me because I’ve gained some strength beyond all the water training,” said Redfern, from Droitwich.
“My core strength has improved and I’ve dropped four seconds in a year. I just can’t wait for the Paralympics.
“I’m looking forward to spending time with the team and getting to know everyone, but also racing and hopefully coming home with my first Paralympic medal.
“My dad and older brother are coming over to Rio for a couple of days to watch me race which is also very exciting and quite comforting to know my family will be there with me,” she added.
Marc Scriven, Redfern’s strength and conditioning coach at the University of Worcester, said: “Teams within the community get access to high level coaching and in some cases facilities which they wouldn’t have or wouldn’t be able to afford under normal circumstances.
“It’s nice for our students to be able to have an impact on the community and in Becky’s case, help her achieve her Paralympic dream.”
