Rebecca Redfern

Started: She began swimming at age five at Droitwich Leisure Centre in England, and joined Droitwich Dolphins Swimming Club at age eight. (worcesternews.co.uk, 12 Aug 2021; oohaahdspa.com, 01 Jul 2021) Reason: Her mother had a fear of water. "She didn't want to pass that onto us so me and my older brothers all got into the pool." (swimming.org, 19 Jul 2022) Awards: In 2024 she was appointed as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire [MBE] in the King's Birthday Honours List. (swimming.org, 14 Jun 2024) In 2016 she received the Black Pear Tree Award from Worcestershire County Council in England. (worldclassworcestershire.co.uk, 01 Nov 2016) She was named Junior Female Sportsperson of the Year at the 2016 Herefordshire and Worcestershire Sports Awards in England. (sportspartnershiphw.co.uk, 2016) She received the Aspiring Talent award at the 2016 West Midlands Community Sports Awards in England. (worcesternews.co.uk, 02 Dec 2016) Additional Info: MOTHERHOOD She gave birth to her son Patrick in July 2020, having won gold in the SB13 100m breaststroke at the 2019 World Championships in London, England, while pregnant. The postponement of the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo meant she had time to qualify for the Games after her pregnancy, and she went on to win silver in the SB13 100m breaststroke in Tokyo. "It felt like fate and that they'd given me time to recover and prepare for the Games. I thought that when I found out I was pregnant, that was it, that was my journey over. I hope that I've proved to a lot of people that, just because you're a mum, it doesn't stop you from achieving your dreams, you can still get them. It might take a little bit of extra work, but you can still get there. I am different, I may have a different mindset but I'm still the same, determined stubborn athlete I was before. I'm a lot more relaxed as an athlete now. I'm not focusing on the little things in sessions that might go wrong or anything, if I have a bad session, it's okay because I've got a life outside and he needs me to be happy." (swimming.org, 19 Jul 2022; britishswimming.org, 01 Sep 2021; independent.co.uk, 01 Sep 2021; paralympics.org.uk, 01 Sep 2021; bbc.co.uk, 01 Apr 2021)

Sporting Relatives: Her older brother Matthew has competed in Para swimming, winning a bronze medal in the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay 49 points at the 2022 World Championships in Madeira, Portugal. Her other brother Anthony has participated in non-Para swimming for Worcester Swimming Club in England. (SportsDeskOnline, 01 Nov 2023; droitwichstandard.co.uk, 02 Aug 2022; worcesternews.co.uk, 27 Mar 2016, 26 Apr 2016)