Gold was the colour four years ago in Birmingham, but Bethany Firth had to settle for bronze in Glasgow this time round. She finished third in the women's S14 200m freestyle in a time of 2:07.63, as her Team GB compatriots, English duo Georgia Sheffield and Poppy Maskill, edged her out on the podium.
There was little time for any disappointment to linger, though, as Firth was quickly reunited with her young daughter Charlotte after collecting the medal. The bronze is a significant one in personal terms because it is the 30-year-old's first major medal since giving birth to Charlotte almost two years ago in August 2024.
With Charlotte in attendance in Glasgow, the medal is likely to rank as the most sentimental in Firth's impressive collection, which includes six Paralympic golds. Charlotte appeared to be enjoying the new medal, clinging tightly to it while Bethany was being interviewed.
Even more notable is the fact that Firth pushed through with her daughter firmly in mind and still made the podium, despite admitting that freestyle has been one of the events in which she has struggled most to find her rhythm since returning after giving birth.
