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National award for blind Blackpool swim girl, 5
LITTLE Anna Wignall faced more challenges than most children when getting into a pool for the first time.
The Layton Primary School pupil was born blind and with only one airway in her nose.
But now the courageous five-year-old is set to make a splash in front of Great Britain's Olympic pool heroes at a prestigious awards ceremony.
After learning to swim just six months ago Anna has beaten swimmers of all ages across the country to scoop the silver award in the Disability Swimmer of the Year category of the National Swimtastic Awards.
Anna today travelled to Stratford-upon-Avon to accept the award from the stars of Team GB past and present.
She told The Gazette: "It's fun. I can pick things up from the bottom of the pool and I can swim without my arm bands. I can swim a long way."
The inspirational water baby was nominated by her swimming teacher and mentor, Gary Gore, from the Olympian School of Swimming, on Bennett's Lane, South Shore.
He said: "Anna has completed her Duckling award grade 1,2,3,4, meaning she can swim 5m on her back and 3m on her front. I'm proud of her, she's done really well!
"The basics of swimming are the same, but it's just trying to adapt these skills for her."
The swimming star has two false eyes after being born with anophthalmia in her left eye, a condition which means absence of an eye; and microphthalmia in the other, which means an eye is abnormally small.
But her parents, Janet and John Wignall, from Layton, say she lives a normal life, especially thanks to support from her six-year-old brother Christopher.
Mrs Wignall said: "We're really proud, she's fantastic. She took to swimming like a duck to water!
"The first day she said 'no thank you, I'll just sit on the side' but then within six weeks she was swimming without arm bands. She trusts Gary and he makes the swimming fun. She loves going, she gets really excited."
The Swimtastic Awards, which is organised by the ASA – the national governing body for swimming – and sponsored by Kellogg's, celebrates the achievements of athletes of all ages and abilities.
Olympic bronze medallist Steve Parry, who is hosting the awards ceremony this year, said: "Swimtastic highlights the heart-warming, courageous and motivational stories of the swimming community up and down the country – it's a brilliant way of recognising people that have achieved their personal goals in the pool."
Bruce Learner, corporate responsibility manager at Kellogg's, added: "I'm delighted that Anna has won this award, she's such a brave little girl – a real inspiration."
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Weather for Blackpool
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
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Cloudy
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