Thursday, September 19, 2024

Alice Tai: British swimmer reflects on mental health journey after Paris gold

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Tai was born with clubfoot and in 2022 had an operation where her right leg was amputated from below the knee because of pain and discomfort.

Over the weekend, she won gold in the S8 100m backstroke in a Paralympic record time of one minute 9.06 seconds.

She also picked up bronze in the SM8 200m individual medley on Sunday.

“For me the biggest thing about being a Paralympian is being able to advocate for disability,” she said.

“I really want to break the stigma for my disability, just being here is doing that and I’m so privileged to be able to do that.

“I really hope that other people with disabilities, who might be a bit self conscious, can watch the Paralympics and see someone like them and the next day wake up with a bit more confidence in themselves.”

Tai will go again in three more events as she competes in the 400m freestyle on Wednesday, the 50m freestyle on Thursday and the 100m butterfly on Saturday.

If you have been affected by the issues raised, there is help available via the BBC Action Line.

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