A two-year-old water baby has left her family wondering whether she will have an Olympic future after her performance in a sponsored charity swim.
Ella Egan, who was born at Bradford Royal Infirmary , swam 12 widths of a full-size Pool – a total of 150 metres – unaided in 30 minutes, in aid of the hospital’s neo-natal unit.
Her proud mum Jax Egan said: “I am absolutely amazed. I am just so proud of her. She would have done more if she could, but we set the 30-minute time limit.
“It makes you wonder whether she could be in future Olympics. We will support her if she wants to carry on doing it.”
Mrs Egan said Ella had been glued to the television during the Olympics, watching the divers and swimmers compete She was introduced to water at just 12 weeks old and regularly attends Water Babies, a group which runs swimming classes for babies. She goes swimming with her parents around five times a week.
With the help of the group, Ella has learned to swim independently and confidently, and her latest achievement in the pool marks the most widths she has completed within 30 minutes.
Ella, who will turn three at the end of this month, has raised £450 for the neo-natal unit.
The unit cares for premature and sick babies and is one of three specialist centres in the region to help babies requiring support and care which cannot be given on post-natal wards.
Ella now lives in Wakefield and completed her challenge at Normanton Pool.
Mrs Egan said before Ella turns four, they hope to set another challenge and see how many lengths she can do, again raising money for the Bradford Royal Infirmary neo-natal unit.
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs BRI and St Luke’s, has invited Ella to look around the ward to see what her money is going towards.
To make a donation, visit her Just Giving page via justgiving.com/Ella-swimming-challenge.
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