Cerys proves a true inspiration
A multi medal- winning South Ayrshire athlete has followed up her recent success in the swimming pool by winning yet another accolade.
Cerys McCrindle won the Inspiration in Sport Award during the Scottish Women In Sports Awards Dinner at the Go Glasgow Hotel.
It is held to honour those women in sport who are real trailblazers in their chosen disciplines.
And Cerys, 17, was delighted to be one of the recipients.
Proud mum Karen McCrindle said: “Cerys was delighted and overwhelmed to receive this award , as well as very grateful for being nominated.
“I am very proud of the work Cerys puts into her swimming and very grateful to everyone who trains her.”
Cerys, who attends Prestwick Academy, is a key swimmer for the Great Britain team and represented the UK with distinction this year at the European Down Syndrome Championships in Sardinia.
Cerys swam her way to a total of five medals and helped her GB team to the top of the medal table.
Her GB team- mate Laura Logan, from Coylton, was also a golden girl at the same competition, winning gold in the 50m butterfly in the Masters 1 category.
Cerys captured gold in the 4x50m female freestyle relay and four bronze medals in the 50m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 400m freestyle and 4x100m freestyle mixed relays.
The European Championships took place in Olbia and more than 100 swimmers took part from 16 countries including Croatia, Denmark, Russia, Spain, United States, Great Britain and Italy.
South Ayrshire Swim Team member Cerys was part of a 31- strong Great Britain team, as was Laura, who is her club- mate .
At the time Cerys told the Post: “I want to thank everyone for their support, it means the world to me.”
Karen said: “Cerys is 17 years- old and competing as a Senior. She is Scotland’s top Down Syndrome swimmer and has shown she is a force to be reckoned with in Europe.”
Head Coach at South Ayrshire Swim Team, Byron Stericker, said: “Cerys has done amazingly well. Her achievements are down to her hard work, dedication and a fantastic team around her that are led by the Para Squad Coach Katie Campbell.”
Coach Katie said: “Cerys is the first Down Syndrome to be classifed in Scotland for Para Swimming and she is looking forward to proving to the world she has what it takes to be a true champion.”
On the night of the award Cerys was in great company, rubbing shoulders with Judy Murray, mum of three- times Major tennis champion, Andy.