Swim star Fiona gets top award
Disability prize for Ayr girl
A swimming star has gained national h o n o u r s a f t e r battling the odds.
Fiona Dawson, 36, was chosen as the overall winner for Sporting Achievement at Scotland’s first National Learning Disability Awards.
Ayr girl Fiona has Downs Syndrome and has competed in four Special Olympics – with a fifth to come this summer.
She has also competed in three Downs Syndrome World Championships, which have seen her swim all over the world, and win medals at the highest level.
Fiona said: “I started swimming at a young age and grew to love the water.
“I have a real goal to help others and am getting the opportunity to do that now.”
That desire to help others recently saw Fiona complete her swimming teaching at the highest, UK recognised level at The Citadel in Ayr.
She received support from South Ayrshire Council to complete the course, and is already helping out at poolside with school swimming classes and the council’s Learn 2 Swim programme.
Katie Campbell, assistant swimming development officer at South Ayrshire Council, said: “Fiona is doing exceptionally well working with the children in the swimming programmes.
“She showed huge commitment during the coaching course to successfully complete each and every assessment that she was tasked with.”
Fiona received the award from TV star Sally Magnusson at the Central Hotel in Glasgow earlier this month.
She was hailed not just as a successful swimmer, but as an inspiration to all who know her.
Her regular swimming training fits into a busy life, where she enjoys art classes, gym sessions, theatre and dance classes along with voluntary work – and she is now enjoying independent living in her own home.
South Ayrshire Para Squad coach Gary Craig said: “Fiona is a terrific role model and she has shown absolute determination to succeed and to help others to be the very best that they can be.
“Her motto is simple – if you believe in yourself you can achieve it.
“T h e s e awa r d s h i g h l i g h t e d t h e extraordinary and amazing achievements of people with learning disabilities and our challenge is to match their ambitions.
“I am so very proud of Fiona and of all our Para Squad swimmers, who are an absolute inspiration and a real pleasure to work with.”