Twelve-year-old Myrah Thaggard made her debut at the National Age Group Championships as a para swimmer representing Nehru Primary School, marking an important step in her sporting journey.
Competing across multiple events, she has already participated backstroke, freestyle, breastroke, and relay races.
Thaggard expressed satisfaction with her overall performance and the strong encouragement she received throughout the competition.
“I feel like it was good because my family said that I did good too and they kept encouraging me throughout,” she said.
She also acknowledged the vital role played by her coaches, who supported her closely during her events and preparation.
“It was good because my coaches were there to support me throughout as well,” she added.
As a young para swimmer competing at a national level for the first time, Thaggard spoke about the initial challenges of adapting to the demands of the sport.
However, she noted that her confidence and comfort in the pool improved with experience.
“At the beginning it was really hard but once I got used to it I started like slowly getting used to it and it felt good,” she said.
Her participation at just 12 years of age highlights both her determination and the importance of inclusive sporting pathways that allow para athletes to compete and grow.
