Golden girl back in Seaforde home

Golden girl back in Seaforde home

19 September 2012 - by BY JOANNE FLEMING

SEAFORDE saw gold this week as it marked the achievement of its Paralympian champion Bethany Firth.

The 16 year-old had the village post box painted in her honour on Monday, with dad Peter, mum Lindsey and little sister Evie coming out to share in the excitement.

Bethany, who has a learning disability, claimed victory for Team Ireland in the recent 100m backstroke final, despite not being able to swim just a few years ago and sustaining a shoulder injury before the London 2012 games.

The gold post-box tribute was part of a U-turn for Royal Mail, which had earlier decided to exclude Bethany along with Northern Ireland medal-winners Jason Smyth and Michael McKillop from the tributes on the grounds they competed for Ireland and not Team GB.

Bethany said it was a "big surprise" to hear the small village post box was to be painted gold in her honour.

"I did not really believe it when I heard," she said. "I did not have an idea they were doing this. It was Jason (Smyth) who started it all."

Originally from Newcastle, Bethany is a former Cumran Primary School pupil and is currently attending the South Eastern Regional College in Ards. Studying cookery and nutrition this year, she goes on to study sport next year at the college.

"I have had people coming up to me saying well done," said the shy teenager, who has found herself the centre of attention since she got home. "They keep asking for pictures and I keep thinking, my hair is a mess."

Bethany is also a big part of the community in Comber, where she attends Comber Baptist Church where her father Peter was the former pastor.

"They have a big banner up welcoming their 'golden girl' back," said mum Lindsey. "A few years ago she did not train on Sunday but now she has got a way of getting to the services."

And it is certainly a punishing regime, with mum getting up at 4am with Bethany for two-and-a-half hours training in the morning and dad taking on the evening shift.

"It is a mix of swimming and gym training," said Bethany. "On Saturday I rest."

The teenager certainly has plenty of Paralympic Games in front of her but for the moment she is concentrating on addressing the shoulder injury she thought would impede her in the 2012 games.

"It's lots of physio and the gym and kicking loads," she explained.

Bethany, who said her faith gave her a boost at the end of the race, said she hoped she would inspire anyone with physical and learning disabilities to get involved with sport.

This month Bethany was also named The Irish Times and Irish Sports Council ‘Sportswoman of the Month’ for August.

Local MP Margaret Ritchie has welcomed Royal Mail's decision to paint the post box in Seaforde gold to acknowledge Bethany's success.

“Bethany has brought fame and credit to Seaforde village, and I think it is commendable that Royal Mail is joining in the community spirit by painting the post box gold," she said. "Everyone is extremely proud of Bethany's achievements, and I am delighted that Royal Mail has gone ahead with this visible celebration in her community.”