She faced an injury during the 2015/16 season, which prevented her from qualifying for the 2016 Paralympic Games. At age 14, she broke her arm but continued swimming after her grandfather provided a cast protector. She resumed competing shortly after the cast was removed.

Training and Philosophy

She trains eight times a week, with each session lasting two to two-and-a-half hours. She believes that girls often hesitate to enter sports as it is sometimes seen as a male-dominated area. She aims to inspire young children, especially girls, to take up sports and stay fit.

Achievements and Awards

Her accolades include being named Para Swimmer of the Year and receiving the Maurice Watkins Champion Athlete award at the 2023 British Swimming Awards. She was also British Swimming's Para Swimmer of the Year for 2021/22. In 2022, she was named Disability Sportswoman of the Year at the Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year Awards.

She was appointed Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours list. Her earlier recognitions include Young Sportswoman of the Year and Disabled Sports Person of the Year at the 2019 Northamptonshire Sports Awards. She was also named Emerging Athlete of the Year by British Swimming in 2017 and Para Swimming Athlete of the Year by the Amateur Swimming Association in 2015.

Beating Her Idol

At age 10, she was inspired by Ellie Simmonds' performance at the 2012 Paralympic Games. She later raced against Simmonds in the SB6 100m breaststroke at the 2018 European Championships in Dublin, Ireland, setting a world record to win gold ahead of Simmonds. She also won two gold medals ahead of Simmonds at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

"I love racing against Ellie. She's such a great swimmer and I'm so proud of what she's achieved. It's pretty cool to beat your idol. Having her there is really supportive and comforting in a way, knowing she's done it for such a long time. She's become an incredible friend," she said.

Ambitions and Future Plans

Her ambition is to win gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. Beyond swimming, she began training as a primary school teacher following the 2020 Paralympic Games and has undertaken school placements. "I was definitely more nervous to teach than I was to race in Japan [at the 2020 Paralympic Games]. It's a classroom of 28 to 30 children and it's their education - it's not just me that I'd impact if it goes wrong," she said.

Other Activities

She served as part of the athlete advisory group for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. Her dedication extends beyond swimming as she aims to balance her sporting career with teaching and inspiring future generations.

Her journey from being inspired by an idol to becoming an accomplished athlete herself is a testament to her dedication and hard work. As she continues to train for future competitions, her story serves as an inspiration for many young athletes worldwide.