Down’s syndrome Team GB swimmer inspiring others in the pool

A young woman with Down’s syndrome has been praised for passing on her love of swimming to others.

Scottish Swimming CEO Euan Lowe hailed Cerys McCrindle’s work as a swimming instructor for South Ayrshire Council as ‘an inspiration’.

The 22-year-old, who started swimming competitively aged 11, was invited to join GB Down Syndrome Swim team in 2017. She holds a European record and two World Records with her relay teams.

‘So much fun’

Cerys said: “I love swimming, I always have. I’ve been able to travel all over the world through my competitions.

She explained: “I became a teacher to pass on my knowledge and help other people feel confident in the water.

“Most importantly I want those I’m teaching to feel like they can just be themselves. Teaching is so much fun and so rewarding”.

“Swimming has given me a lot of passion – I love what I do” 💙

Meet South Ayrshire Swim Team’s Cerys McCrindle 🗣

Cerys who has Down’s Syndrome, is a swimmer and a swimming teacher 💪#SeeMyAbility #LearnToSwim pic.twitter.com/ZU6QMitQsw

— Scottish Swimming (@ScottishSwim) November 24, 2023

Role model

Trailblazer model Ellie Goldstein recently spoke of her desire to inspire others with Down’s syndrome to pursue their “hopes and dreams”.

At Ellie’s birth, doctors told her parents that she would never walk and talk, but now Ellie has a successful career and last year became the first person with Down’s to appear on the cover of Vogue magazine.

Ellie says she is “proving people wrong” and believes her success makes her “a role model for people like me”.

Disability campaigner

In her book, I’m Just Heidi! Living to the Full with Down’s Syndrome, disability campaigner and friend of The Christian Institute Heidi Carter (often known by her maiden name Heidi Crowter) writes of her own happy and fulfilled life.

Heidi – whose husband James also has Down’s syndrome – is calling on the UK Government to end discrimination against babies in the womb who have the chromosomal condition.

Under Britain’s current legislation, abortion is permitted up to 24 weeks for most reasons but is available up to birth for children deemed to have a disability – including Down’s syndrome.