A SUPER swimmer from Largs who earned a Paralympic silver medal almost a decade ago is still making waves in the pool after smashing a British record.

Rio 2016 Paralympic medallist Abby Kane progressed her short course 100m backstroke lifetime best to set a new women’s S13 British record of 1:09.20.

However, the moment was bitter sweet, as the sad news was received that her grandmother Helen, who was so proud of her sporting achievements over the years, had sadly passed away.

Abby, 21, continues to set the highest standards as the para-swimming community came together at Sandwell Aquatics Centre recently to kick-start a new season of competition, while juggling her studies at Stirling University.

The annual aquatics calendar fixture saw a packed schedule of short-course racing take place in November, as Swim England hosted the 2024 edition of the Aquatics GB Para-Swimming Winter Meet.

Freshly back into the water after their summer breaks, a total of 12 Paris Paralympians were among the more than 100 para-swimming competitors to descend for the weekend on the 2022 Commonwealth Games pool and race for national multi-classification medals.

Abby KaneAbby Kane (Image: Newsquest)

The swim was touched with personal tragedy for Abby and her family as her much loved grandmother had sadly passed away.

Mum Karen Jensen said: "Abby was on the bus to Birmingham with the Scottish team and I called her to tell her my mum Helen had passed away. She was with her former coach Sharon McIntyre as Sharon is the Scottish para team coach, and Sharon said that the swim was for me.

"It is the first time since 2016 she has been able to improve her backstroke time but not for lack of trying she came home and then sat a four-hour accountancy exam."

Abby was just 13 years and 39 days old when she took part in the S13 400m freestyle at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and famously swam her way to a silver medal, with a welcome home party at her street in Braeside Avenue, and an open top bus celebration taking place in Largs at Yuletide Night.

The former Largs Academy pupil has Stargardt disease, a condition leading to progressive vision deterioration.

And after 14 years of competitive swimming, personal bests, and breaking records, Abby's commitment to the sport continues to burn brightly while studying business at Stirling.