When the winner of the ‘Junior Disability Award’ at the Sport Pembrokeshire Awards evening for 2016 at Folly Farm was announced there was no doubt that 12 year old Lily Rice was a popular choice because the young swimmer from Tenby has overcome difficult hurdles to become such a talented prospect that her targets now centre on top international events as she gets older.

Lily has a condition called Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia, which limits her use of her legs, her muscle power & coordination. She enjoys sports, but found participation difficult until she came across swimming and started swimming with Tenby Dolphins when she was nine and a half, and quickly progressed through Pembrokeshire Puffins, where she was highlighted for potential and picked up by the Welsh Disability Squad.

Early start – and quick progress made

Lily was taught to swim by her parents Jenni and Mark and had been swimming in the 'Swim Fit' sessions, where she showed such potential that they approached Mel Morgan at Tenby Dolphins'.

After joining the local club for a term her progress was very pleasing and so she was put in touch with Tamara O’Leary at the Pembrokeshire Puffins Disability Swimming Club.

Within a few sessions Tamara recommended her to Huw Griffiths, who came down from Swansea to watch Lily swim and invited her to start attending regular sessions with the Welsh Development squad, where she has been ever since.

Terrific commitment shown

There is no doubt that Lily and her family have shown a terrific commitment to her chosen sport because during a single week she trains five times, attending swimming sessions with the Dolphins four times a week.

These last two hours each and involve loads of repetitions in her chosen strokes, building up stamina and developing her skills. It is hard work alongside selection for the county squad every Saturday in Haverfordwest, where they start at 7am and spend three hours.

The squad swims for an intense two hours and follow this up with 60 minutes in the gym and if this isn’t enough then Lily swims with Swim Wales every fortnight at the National Pool at Sketty, Swansea, so this makes for yet more travel!

Swim Wales give support – and there is massive help from her family

Swim Wales highlights galas (as well as keeping the Rice family informed on British Swimming and WASA sites) that are suitable for Lily to compete in, so that is an added help.

Luckily, the Rice family is one that likes swimming because her father Mark swam competitively with Swansea Otters (now known as Swim Swansea); has surfed since he was a nipper and still surfs at Manorbier when time allows, as well as mum Jenni having previously been a competitive swimmer with Tenby Dolphins and the county squad when she was younger.

Extreme sports lover

Outside of her love of swimming, Lily really enjoys extreme sports after going to watch her hero, Aaron 'Wheelz' Fotheringham, at the Nitro Cross in Parc y Scarlets, where the family was lucky to go along with VIP passes.

She was immediately engrossed in the sport as 'Wheelz' completed somersaults over a series of ramps  and since then has built a ramp in the back garden where she has tried taking part herself, not in the least afraid of taking a tumble or two in the process.

The next step would be to acquire a special wheelchair capable of performing such feats and she has already made one significant step by having a full-face motor cross helmet for Christmas - so local skate parks beware in the near future!

Lily has also tried skate boarding and BMX cycling as part of her love of sport and it is a fair bet that WCMX (Wheel Chair Motor Cross) will also feature in her list of ambitions for the future!

Change of classification a distinct possibility in the name of fairness

Lily is currently in the S10 classification and disability swimmers in this class tend to have minimal weakness affecting their legs, a missing leg below the knee or problems with their hips. This class includes a number of different disabilities including cerebral palsy.

But it is fair to say that Lily’s condition has deteriorated with regard to leg power and after discussions between Lily, her parents and coaches they have decided to apply for reclassification to S9 or S8 as soon as possible so that she can compete fairly against others with a similar disability.

“This will involve Lily swimming in front of an assessor who will weigh up a number of considerations before hopefully moving Lily to a new classification,” Jenni told us.

Hard work is really paying off

One of Lily’s strengths is that she knows her limitations and adapts her training sessions with Dolphins accordingly. Lee Davies, who is her coach at Swim Wales, has devised an individual development plan, highlighting all areas for improving her technique and ability.

Her commitment has certainly paid off because it has led to the Nationals in Manchester last December and recently the International Para-Championships, the Rio Selection meet in Glasgow. 

In Manchester she was the youngest competitor in the 11-13 category but swam so well that she earned fourth spot in the age-group rankings – and although she missed the event this year because of having her appendix removed she is raring to go again now!

At the latter event in Scotland she was one of the youngest competing and had the chance to see all the current stars she would one day like to emulate. Lily likes the longer distances to swim and in this event showed her versatility by competing in the freestyle at 100, 200 and 400 metres, as well as the 100 metres backstroke.

“I was a little bit nervous to start,” admitted Lily, “but I was really pleased that I achieved new personal bests in all of my events.”

And finally . . .

Lily’s next major challenge is the International Para Championships in April and she is already focussed on doing well despite being only 12 years of age.

She still has a long way to go but is competing with the best and after reclassification she intends to train hard over the next few years and attain her goal of eventually making it to the Commonwealth Games and the Paralympics – and we wish Lily Rice every success because she is a young lady who shines as a flag waver for her family, friends, county and country!