Golden girl Suzanna Hext wins host nation’s first medal at Manchester 2023 Allianz Para Swimming World Championships
Suzanna Hext won British Swimming’s first medal of the Manchester 2023 Allianz Para Swimming World Championships in magnificent style as she surged to S5 50m freestyle gold.
Hext, who does her strength and conditioning training at the Team Bath Sports Training Village, touched the wall first in a new personal best time of 36.71, beating Ukraine’s Iryna Poida to gold by two-hundredths of a second.
“It’s an honour to get the Great Britain team going,” said Hext. “It’s my first time being a world champion and I’m feeling absolutely blown away at the moment. It feels surreal and I’m just trying to take it all in.
This feels insane! Waking up a WORLD CHAMPION!!🥇🇬🇧🌎
I was discharged from hospital on Saturday, back doing what I love here Monday!This is for everyone who have helped me over a tough few years. Family, partner, friends, British Swimming, medical team… the list goes on! TY pic.twitter.com/grUvCbq8P1
— Suzanna Hext PLY (@suzannahext) August 1, 2023
“The last few years have been tough but it’s made me resilient and you have to learn to rise above it and adapt. I love what I do and the team around us, my coach, British Swimming, my family and friends – without them this wouldn’t be possible. To come away with this gold medal isn’t for me really, it’s for everyone who has helped me on the journey.”
Hext accesses the S&C facilities at Team Bath through the UK Sports Institute (UKSI). She will be bidding for a second medal when she contests the 100m freestyle on Sunday.
Top picture credit: Sam Mellish / Manchester 2023 Allianz Para Swimming World Championships
