The family of swimmer Olivia Newman-Baronius, 17, from Bedfordshire, say her achievements 'blow their minds'.
A teenage swimmer who had "everything taken away from her" after contracting sepsis has said she is excited to be making her Paralympic debut in Paris.equalled the Women’s S14 100m Butterfly world recordDuring Covid, the 17-year-old had spent 10 days in hospital with sepsis. She lost all her muscle strength before being diagnosed with gastroparesis, a condition which partially paralyses the stomach.
"I struggle to eat three full meals a day, so instead I eat smaller meals more often, which makes it easier to get in the calories I need to swim."James Burridge/BBCHer mother, Emma Newman-Baronius, said: "It was extremely tough to watch her go through the pain. She's worked so hard to become a swimmer.
"She worked really, really hard up until Covid and it felt like during that time when she was really ill, everything was taken away from her.Newman-Baronius said she is now "really excited" for the Paralympics, adding that getting a medal would be "very special".
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