A former student from a local college is preparing to represent Team GB in a swimming event as part of the Paralympic Games in London.
Gemma Almond, a former student of Shrewsbury Sixth Form College, will be swimming in individual heats on the 1st, 5th and 6th September in the capital’s Aquatic Centre.
19-year-old Gemma said: “I am excited to be competing in my first games, particularly because it is in my home country. Since leaving the college I have successfully passed my first year at Swansea University and I have broken the British Record in my two main events whilst training in Swansea high for over twenty hours a week with fellow 2012 Paralympic swimmers. It has been a tough but very rewarding year for me, and I am very much looking forward to being able to compete and enjoy the experience.”
Martin Ward, Principal of Shrewsbury Sixth Form College, commented: “We are incredibly proud of Gemma, she was a brilliant student and had a very active involvement with school events, including her inspiring presentation at our annual Celebrating Achievement event in 2010 where she shared her hopes of representing Team GB in the Paralympic Games. It’s fantastic that we have such talent here in Shropshire and we will be on the edge of our seats and wish her all the best of luck.”
Gemma competes in the SM10 category due to having bilateral hip dysplasia, a condition which means that she doesn’t have a fully formed hip joint on both sides, and therefore has no support for weight bearing on her legs.
Shrewsbury Sixth Form College was established in 1981 and offers an extensive range of full-time courses for over 1,400 students aged 16-19 years. The College aims to provide teaching and learning of the highest quality and provides a stimulating, supportive and encouraging environment ensuring it creates the ideal bridge between school and work or higher education.
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