Tully Kearney

Started: She began swimming at age eight. (pcs.org.uk, 18 Dec 2019) Reason: "I would go to watch my mum and brother when they used to go swimming and the coach asked me if I wanted to give it a try. I really enjoyed it and I've carried on ever since." (birminghammail.co.uk, 18 May 2011) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (tresamagazine.com, 25 Oct 2022) Awards: She was a baton bearer during the Queen's Baton Relay ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. Her leg of the relay was in Walsall, England. (tresamagazine.com, 25 Oct 2022; gettyimages.co.uk, 23 Jul 2022) She was appointed Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire [MBE] in the 2022 New Year Honours list. (gllsportfoundation.org, 04 Jan 2022) In 2019 she received the Disability Award at the Pride of Sport Awards. (mmu.ac.uk, 11 Dec 2019) In 2015 she was named England's Amateur Swimming Association [ASA] Para swimming Performance Athlete of the Year. The same year she was also named Para swimming Emerging Athlete of the Year at the British Swimming Awards and Amateur Sportswoman of the Year at the Birmingham Sports Awards. (swimswam.com, 16 Nov 2015, 03 Oct 2015; swimming.org, 18 Sep 2015) In 2014 she was named Junior Sportsperson of the Year at the Birmingham Sports Awards in England. (swimming.org, 22 Sep 2014) Additional Info: FRAME RUNNING She tried frame running for the first time in 2018 and has since competed in Para athletics in England. She has also taken steps to set up a frame running club for young people in Loughborough since moving there from Manchester in 2023. "Seeing how much impact frame running has on young kids who cannot walk - but put them on a frame runner and they can run laps of a track. I believe that everyone deserves to experience that feeling of freedom the sport provides. It's just an amazing experience to see, not only their reactions, but their family and friends too. There are so many children and young people out there that would greatly benefit from access to a frame, so knowing that is what keeps me going at this grassroots level. And who knows, one of these youngsters might one day become a Paralympian like me." (britishswimming.org, 30 Sep 2023; cpsport.org, 04 Jan 2022) EARLY INSPIRATION She grew up in the same village as multiple Paralympic champion Ellie Simmonds, attending the same school and swim club. "When I was younger, Ellie was one of my biggest inspirations. In school assembly she was always there with her medals and I remember looking at her and thinking, 'That's what I want to do when I'm older'." (bbc.co.uk, 18 Apr 2016) OTHER ACTIVITIES She has been a patron of British charity the Dystonia Society and a sporting ambassador for Cerebral Palsy Sport. She was also a volunteer at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. "Volunteering was a great experience and allowed me to see the other side of the sport and just how much goes into the behind-the-scenes running of big events. I didn't realise how much work goes into a field of play volunteer role but I really enjoyed it and I now have added admiration for allocate volunteers who make all these events possible." (tresamagazine.com, 25 Oct 2022; cpsport.org, 04 Jan 2022; dystonia.org.uk, 29 Jun 2019)