SEAGULLS’ Paralympian-in-waiting Alice Tai struck gold nine times to win the ‘top girl’ trophy at the disability National Junior Short Course Championships in Sheffield.
The 13-year-old Bournemouth Collegiate School (BCS) youngster also recorded eight personal best times on her way to victory in the S10 junior “A” 50, 100 and 400m freestyle, 50 and 100m backstroke. She also won the 50 and 100m butterfly and the 100 and 200m individual medley.
Adam Parfitt, her coach at the BCS swimming academy, said: “Alice had a tough weekend competing in nine events but she really stepped up.
“All the recent hard work that she has put into training both in the pool and on land is really starting to pay off.”
Tai returns to Sheffield this weekend for the British International disability championships, involving disabled swimmers from around the world.
She was born with a severe club-foot deformity of both feet, a condition which means she can’t run, jump or skip.
She has had six operations on one foot and five on the other and started swimming with Seagulls four years ago for rehabilitation.
Despite her disability, she has competed to county championship level in able-bodied swimming and also plays water polo.
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