A teenager from Kent will be the youngest member of the Aquatics GB swimming squad for the Paralympic Games.

Tonbridge Swimming Club’s Iona Winnifrith, 13, will compete at the Paralympics in Paris, France, this summer.

Her coach, Michael Ellis, said: “Iona has been at the club since she was five.

“She has been working her way through the ‘Learn to Swim’ programme.

“Since September-time, she has been one of the more active in our performance-orientated programme with a view to getting to a major Games in the next five years or so.

“It came out of the blue a little bit in that it all happened really quickly. Six months ago, she was not even on GB’s radar.

“So, the fact that it happened so quickly is a bit of a shock!”

Winnifrith has short stature and swims in the S7 classification for physical impairment.

Her favourite event is the 100m breaststroke. Winnifrith’s swim in this event at the British Championships saw her tie for gold in the multi-class category - in a time which was under the Aquatics GB nomination standard for Paris.

She celebrated receiving her official nomination form for Paris on her birthday.

Since the trials, Winnifrith has competed at the European Para Championships and won two European titles in Madeira, Portugal.

She improved her personal-best times in both the 100m breaststroke and the 200m individual medley in 1min29.91sec and 3.09.76sec, respectively. Both were also new British Para-Swimming records times.

Winnifrith claimed European bronze in the 50m butterfly event, too.

“She trains five days a week,” added Ellis. “We’re more late nights at Tonbridge Swimming Club.

“She trained until 9pm on Tuesday - but some train until 10pm.

“For a bunch of 13-year-olds, that’s not ideal but it is what it is.”

While Winnifrith’s exact schedule for the Paralaympics, from August 28 until September 8, is yet to be confirmed, many from Tonbridge Swimming Club hope to be there to support her.

Ellis said: “My mum, Michele, is also a coach at the club. She was coaching Iona before I did.

“Iona’s family are going, as well. The nice thing is tickets are easier to get hold of than they are for the Olympics. You can choose what you want, rather than entering a ballot.

“The Worlds in Singapore next year might be more of a trek - if she goes.”

Away from the pool, Winnifrith has two dogs while she is a member of the local youth theatre.

Visit www.tonbridgeswimmingclub.co.uk for details about Tonbridge Swimming Club.