Louise Watkin, who attends Kelly College, beat the existing record for the paralympic 800m freestyle times by a phenomenal half a minute — but was denied the official record while swimming in the Devon County Championships at Tiverton. Because the pool only had six lanes instead of eight, the records have not been recognised.
However, her coach, Kelly College's Robin Brew, will be appealing to the British Disability Swimming and the Amateur Swimming Association to have the ruled overturned.
Louise, aged 16, swims in the S9 disability category and has already won a silver and three bronze medals in the Beijing Paralympic Games in 2008.
She had already set a new British, European and world women's record (subject to ratification) in the 50m freestyle in the senior girls' 4x50m freestyle relay at the National Schools Relay Championships in Gloucester on February 7. Her time of 29.52secs bettered the previous mark of 29.73secs.
The next day at Tiverton in the 800m freestyle, Louise's time of 9mins 54.56secs smashed the previous record by some 32 seconds.
This week she has been altitude training in Manchester, in preparation for competing in Nevada this spring
Louise told the Times: 'It is disappointment not to get the record. However, I was pleased with my swim. It's not just about records but about enjoying the sport and doing the best I can. Also when I go into the pool the next time it will give me the confidence to know what I can achieve.'
The talented swimmer is now in preparation for the European Championships in Iceland this October and the world championships. Her long term aim is the London Paralympics in 2012.
Also at the Gloucester meet in the junior boys' 4x50 free relay, Kelly College swimming squad members Lee Emerson, Elliott Boon, Felix Davies and Justin Southam were second while in the intermediate boys' 4x50 medley relay, Kelly College's Cameron Brodie, Braden Wren, Bruce Traill and Cameron Carpenter-Warren were third.