Paralympic gold medal swimmer Tully Kearney has said she hopes being awarded an MBE will help show people with progressive conditions that “they can still achieve”.
Kearney, who won gold in the Tokyo Paralympics women’s 100 metre freestyle S5, said being awarded an MBE at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday afternoon was a “surreal experience”.
The 25-year-old swimmer was born with cerebral palsy and developed generalised dystonia, a progressive neurological movement disorder, in her mid-teens – a significant progression in this condition, coupled with an injury, forced her to withdraw from the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio.
She told the PA news agency: “As someone with a progressive condition, after withdrawing from Rio I didn’t know if I’d be able to make it to the Paralympic Games – so to make it and then win gold and be awarded an MBE is just an incredible experience.
“And I think for me, it shows other people with progressive conditions and people that are struggling with life that they can still achieve.”
Kearney said she had a conversation with the Princess Royal, who carried out the investiture, about her experiences at the Tokyo Games and the different swimming events she participated in.
The Nottingham-born swimmer added that she was determined to go to the 2024 Paris Paralympics to “retain my title and never be beaten again”.
Kearney – who is a multiple British, European and world record holder – said being an athlete with a progressive condition had made her aware that “a lot of people with severe disabilities don’t realise swimming is a sport for everyone because generally on television, you see the higher-classification, less-disabled athletes”.
“So for me, it’s really important to show little kids out there that if they want to be a swimmer, they can,” she added.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here