Golden girl Bethany firth flies home after rio success

Golden girl Bethany firth flies home after rio success

21 September 2016

CHURCH friends, school friends, old friends, new friends — Bethany Firth returned home yesterday to a hero’s welcome.

Draped in her four Paralympic medals, the celebrated Seaforde swimmer appeared overwhelmed as she recognised many familiar faces among the well-wishers in the arrival hall of Belfast City Airport.

After a full day of travel from the Paralympics in Rio, where she became Team GB’s most successful medal winner, the 20 year-old athlete was steadied with an enthusiastic cuddle from her pet pup Russell, before being engulfed by the national press.

Twice whisked away by friends to catch her breath, before returning smiling to the throng, Bethany admitted feeling surprised by the emotions of her return.

“I do feel so emotional, but even though I was told people would be here I am so surprised by the level of interest,” she said.

“The last few days have been all a high, now I am hoping to see my family and spend time with them.

“I feel like I have been away for so long and I just can’t wait to get home.

“It has been a long journey and it has been a hard few weeks but to come back home and see everyone here is amazing.”

Among those to greet Bethany were staff and friends from her former primary school and from South Eastern Regional College, where Bethany is studying sport.

Delighted by her success and by the inspiration she gives, her teachers said they were not surprised by the level of her success, which includes three golds and one silver medal to add to the gold medal she won when competing for Ireland at the last Paralympic games.

SERC tutor Petra Armstong said Bethany’s determination and commitment to training meant she had no doubt she would achieve huge success.

“She took last year off college to focus on Rio and she will be starting back at the end of September,” she said.

“She is very inspirational, everybody is talking about her and we have all been rooting for her. Our students will no doubt be given a great inspirational boost by her story.”

Jerome Starrs, PE teacher at Longstone Primary School where Bethany learned to swim, said she was a reluctant swimmer as an 11 year-old.

“Her mum thought she would not get into the pool at all but we encouraged her and she took to it like a fish, she had natural talent,” he recalled.

Mr Starrs said the school submitted Bethany’s lap times to Disability Sport NI who invited her to a competition.

“We arrived at the event on a Saturday morning and Bethany flew up the pool and that was the start of it,” he said. 

“She is a once in a lifetime student and we are unlikely to see another star like her but her success will be an inspiration to our students and many others.”

Elaine Reid, from Disability Sport NI, which supports Bethany as an elite athlete, said the huge local support for her had come as a surprise to her family, who will return from Rio today.

“Her parents cannot believe the hype at home,” she said.

“I am sure Bethany will be exhausted for a couple of weeks before returning to college and getting back into training. Bethany is only 20 and Tokyo will come around quickly, in swimming terms she will then be at her peak.”

Friends of Comber Baptist Church, where Bethany’s father Peter was a former pastor, were among the well-wishers to attend yesterday’s home-coming.

Church member Yvonne Young said she had been kept abreast of Bethany’s form through a What’s App group set up by her mum Lyndsey Firth.

Looking through dozens of texts sent among Bethany’s well-wishers during the Paralympics, Yvonne stops at one written by her proud mum; “Thanks to everyone for all your support, Bethany is so lucky to have so many friends and family.”

Yvonne said she felt emotional to be at the airport to see the young athlete arrive home.

“Bethany is just amazing and we have followed her all the way,” she said.

“She is a lovely girl from a lovely family and Seaforde loves her, we all do.