Swimming Champion, Bethany Firth, announced as Sportswoman of the Month for August

Swimming Champion, Bethany Firth has today been named The Irish Times / Irish Sports Council 'Sportswoman of the Month' for August 2013. Bethany recently won three silver medals at the Paralympics Swimming World Championships in Montreal, Canada.

The 17 year old from Seaforde, Co Down showed her sheer determination and talent by winning three silver medals in the 200m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke and 100m Breaststroke where Bethany shaved almost two seconds off her personal best with a new lifetime best of 1:18.74.

Commenting on her success, Bethany said "I don't normally like swimming breast stroke but I'm so pleased. Before I went into the race Jim (National Paralympic Swim Coach Jim Laverty) told me just to enjoy it and I really did enjoy it".

The accolade of winning the Irish Times/Irish Sports Council 'Sportswoman of the Month' means Bethany will be the eighth of 12 sportswomen to be in the running for the prestigious title of 'Sportswoman of the Year' at an awards ceremony in December 2013.