Meet Lara
Paralympic medalist
Meet Lara, she is a Paralympic swimmer and a club coach. we had a quick chat with Lara to find out more about bout her and this is what she said.
Meet Lara, she is a Paralympic swimmer and a club coach. we had a quick chat with Lara to find out more about bout her and this is what she said.
What made you decide to get into swimming?
I loved to be in the water but could only swim underwater not on the surface....so I was signed up for swimming lessons at the Fife Institute when I was around 8 years old. Was asked to join a Disability Sport Fife swim session and a few years later joined the swimming club. At GASC at that time there were around 8 paralympic swimmers and so I was encouraged to compete at club/Fife league/East District events and also para swimming events.
How long have you been a swimmer?
A long time!😂 I joined the club when I was 12 years old.
Which teams did you/do you swim for?
Glenrothes ASC....from 1992-2000, during which time I made the team for my first Paralympic Games in Atlanta, then after the Paralympic Games in Sydney I moved to InCAS (only because my coach at the time was moving). I was at InCAS until 2005 when I stopped swimming for a time due to illness. I hadn't intended getting back on the blocks again but in 2009 I was doing a bit of swimming and was roped in by a few of the local masters swimmers to join them for a relay....and at that point joined Carnegie Swimming Club because one of our team was Wendy Szaranek and her husband John was head coach at Carnegie at that time.
How many hours did you/do you train per week?
When I was training for the Games, 8 or 9 sessions a week in the water and 4 strength and conditioning sessions. As a masters swimmer a bit less!😂 I now swim 5 mornings a week, 6-7:30am and try to fit in 1 strength and conditioning session as time allows.
What's your favourite gala/competition?
In Para swimming, it was the DSE short course nationals at Ponds Forge.
As a masters swimmer, very similar, held at almost the same time of year...The ASA National short course meet also held at Ponds Forge.
What's your favourite event?
100m Breaststroke
What's your favourite stroke?
Breaststroke
What's your best PB?
1.25.11
What's your preferred pre-race snack?
Salt & Vinegar rice cakes
What would you say to encourage future swimmers to get involved?
Join the club! Swimming is a sport for life you can enjoy at any age or ability level😀🏊♀️💦