Plymouth swimmer Abi Daly has returned from the Special Olympics GB National Summer Games with an impressive four medals including gold.
The national summer games returned after a nine year break, bringing athletes with learning disabilities from across Great Britain to Birmingham to compete in seven sports between August 27 and 30.
Abi, representing Plymouth Mayflower Specials and Plymouth and District Specials, travelled to Wyndley Leisure Centre in Sutton Coldfield alongside Plymouth team mate Cameron Harris.
With swimmers limited to three individual events and one relay, Abi made every race count, winning gold in the 100m butterfly, silver in the 200m freestyle and bronze in the 100m freestyle.
Her fourth medal came in the 4x25m freestyle relay. Abi and Cameron joined Jake and Sam from Wild Sharks Dorset Specials to form Team South West.
The quartet produced a commanding performance, with Abi swimming the third leg before handing over to Cameron to bring the team home. They finished around 25 metres ahead of second-placed Wales to take gold.
Abi is now hoping to take the next step and has applied for the Special Olympics World Summer Games, due to be held in Santiago, Chile, next year.
And her work away from the swimming pool has continued too.
On September 2, Abi was at Westminster representing Ambitious about Autism as part of its Absence Notes campaign. In her roles as a Youth Network Ambassador and Kids charity advisory panellist, she spoke to ministers about changes she believes could improve education for young autistic people.
From winning medals in the pool to making young people’s voices heard at Westminster, it has certainly been a busy few days for the Plymouth athlete.
Photographs © Wayne Perry / Plymouth Post