After only learning to swim three-and-a-half years ago, Aberglassyn's Gabriella Howells has emerged as the golden girl of an international swimming competition, now she is hoping to make it to the Paralympics.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 16-year-old qualified to compete in 10 events in the International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability [INAS] Global Games, representing Australia, in October.
A maximum of three people from the 47 countries participating in the games were selected for each event in the multi-sport, quadrennial competition, which took place in Brisbane.
Gabriella, who has autism, began swimming competitively three years ago. She trains four days a week at West Wallsend Swim Centre. The games were her first major sporting event.
"I just got a call from the Global Games people. They said they would like me to come swim and that my times were fast enough compared to the other competitors," Gabriella said.
"I was actually just hoping that I would get at least one medal in a race."
Gabriella came out of the pool with a medal in each of her events: seven gold medals and three silver. She achieved personal best times in every race, however, in 200m Freestyle she shaved off a huge 21 seconds.
"It was very exciting," Gabriella said. "In the moment, I didn't know what to feel. It was overwhelming."
The Year 10 student's mother, Katharine Chymiak, said she felt "pretty proud" of her daughter's commitment to her newfound sport after Ms Chymiak signed Gabriella and her younger brother up for swimming classes three-and-half years ago.
"I just wanted the kids to learn to swim and then they really started enjoying it and seem to have a natural ability in the water," she said. "Gabby has done remarkably considering she's only been competing for three years. "Swimming has really booster her confidence. When she swims she can just focus on competing against herself and not worry about what anyone else is doing."
Gabriella delivered a speech at the INAS Global Games about her motivation to keep training, saying she had to overcome others' negative perceptions of her abilities, as well as her own.
"One of the hardest challenges has been trying to find myself as a swimmer, and not listening to what other people said about me. School bullies said I wasn't good enough but I kept going," she said. "Now I want to be a role model for kids with disabilities, especially autism. No matter what road blocks are in the way, there is a way around it."
Gabriella is aiming to swim at the World Championships and the Paralympics.
"I have to listen to my own advice and pursue my dreams," she said.
