Ellie Simmonds is a dominate Paralympic swimmer having won five times in her 23-years and was honored locally for her success, reported Border Telegraph. Just recently, she attended to a degree ceremony where she was granted an honorary Human and Health Sciences degree from Swansea University. It was a blessing to her, as it was for the school to present her with the achievement. Prof. Hilary Lappin-Scott, the school’s senior pro-vice-chancellor, shared how Ellie has captured her heart and mind as well as everyone else in the U.K.
Ellie Simmons lives with achondroplasia dwarfism and competes in the S6 disability category for the Paralympics. To learn more about achondroplasia, click here.
Just recently in the 2016 Rio Paralympics, she secured her fifth gold medal. She started training when she was very young and went on to win two gold medals when she was only 13-years-old at the Beijing Paralympics. It was such an amazing experience for her that she didn’t want to go back to school, besides to see her friends, of course. She continued as a hardcore athlete, training constantly throughout her years by former miner, Billy Pye. He helped coach her to one of her greatest accomplishments being the youngest member of the MBE, Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. She also received an OBE, Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, in 2013. To say she’s an accomplished athlete would be an understatement.
Since she grew up training in South Wales, Swansea always had a special admiration for the young star and to see how much she progressed over the years is something they are very proud of. They continued to express their gratitude for her choice to train at the university’s facilities, which eventually was a host for the International Paralympic Championships back in 2014. They are proud and so are we. Time to sit back and watch what other amazing feats she will go on to accomplish.
