Iona Winnifrith, the swimmer was not content with second place, which sets the Tonbridge native apart from other 13-year-old.
Iona Winnifrith is a British Swimmer who won a silver medal in the 100-meter breaststroke SB7 at the Paris Summer Paralympics in 2024.
Highlights
- Iona’s early exposure to swimming was from watching her brothers train at Tonbridge, South Carolina.
- Iona’s parents began taking her to swimming sessions when she was just six months old.
- At the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris, Iona Winnifrith, a British swimmer with skeletal dysplasia, took home a silver medal in the 100-meter breaststroke SB7.
Moreover, Winnifrith, who was born on April 10, 2011, suffers from skeletal dysplasia, a condition that results in short limbs and low stature.
Furthermore, the Swimmer was first introduced to swimming while watching her brothers train at Tonbridge SC.
At the age of five, the club encouraged her to join as the youngest participant in the learn to swim division.
Iona Winnifrith Is Very Close With Her Parents
Iona was born on April 10, 2011, to her mother, Gillian Winnifrith, and her father.
Although she hasn’t discussed much about her parents, they have acknowledged that they helped her with her swimming career.
Iona’s mother, Gillian Winnifrith, stated that,
“We are very proud. We never expected this. “She works very hard and deserves every success that comes her way.”
BBC.Com
When talking about her family, she mentioned that she is very close with her parents and that they have been very supportive of her career.
Moreover, she was very active in other activities, some of which she did with her father, in addition to swimming.
“I used to run the 5K Park Run with my dad and our dog. I got my 50 runs t-shirt. It was great doing this as everyone cheered each other on and I met lots of people. I also loved playing netball at primary school and belonged to a club for a while. I used to do ballet, but I gave it up to concentrate on my swimming.”
Littlebigsports
Considering that she was born in Tonbridge and had British roots, it makes sense to believe that her parents are also from England.
Despite their preference for staying out of the spotlight, Iona’s parents clearly played a crucial role in supporting her swimming career and took pride in her achievements.
Iona has received incredible support from her parents, three brothers, and TSC teammate Tilly, as well as from her lead coach, Michael, her former lead coach, Michele, and Tilly’s family.
Iona Winnifrith’s Parents Took Her To Swimming Groups When She Was Six Months Old
Iona’s parents began taking her to parent and baby swimming sessions when she was six months old.
As a toddler and preschooler, she attempted to crawl into the pool while watching her three older brothers receive swimming lessons. Eventually, she received lessons of her own.
“I was watching them when I was younger,” Iona recalls. “I got into the pool myself when I was about five and I just started swimming and found a love for it. They were very proud when I got selected and they’re all really excited for Paris.”
Iona Winnifrith
Now, she has made headlines for herself at a very young age. In an interview, her mother revealed how she broke records and has been improving at swimming since she began.
“This was the first time she swam alongside the top GB para swimmers. Since then, she’s become faster and faster, swimming at meets all over the UK and now the world, breaking British and now European records.”
Gillian Iona’s mum
Moreover, Lona won two titles at the European Championships to cap off an incredible 2024 season, making her parents extremely proud. Lona Winnifrith said that,
“We’ve told her to enjoy it and do her best,”
Gillian Winnifrith
Additional Information
- Iona Winnifrith, has made close bonds with a 2020 Paralympic silver medallist, and Maisie Summers-Newton, a two-time Paralympic gold medallist.
- Iona won bronze in the S7 50m Butterfly.
- With a pace of 1:29.61, Winnifrith broke her personal British record and came in 3.60 seconds behind gold champion and neutral Paralympian athlete Mariia Pavlova.
