Bethany Firth sets new world record in record time

Bethany Firth yesterday set a new world record time when she retained the S14 100m backstroke title at the Paralympic Games in Rio.

By The Newsroom

Published 9th Sep 2016, 09:38 BST

Updated 12th Sep 2016, 17:13 BST

The reigning Paralympic champion from Seaford in Co Down broke her own world record for the second time on Thursday to claim the gold medal.

The 20-year-old beat her previous best of 1 minute 4.53 seconds, with a time of 1 minute, 4.05 seconds.

After the race, she said, “I’m so chuffed with that but I couldn’t have done it without the support of everyone back home - especially my church and my family.”

She will be back in action on Sunday in another of her strongest events, the 200m freestyle.

As a 16-year-old, Firth clinched gold for Ireland in London and went on to win three silver medals at the IPC World Championships in Montreal a year later before opting to switch allegiance to Great Britain.