“A phenomenal athlete” – Alice Tai wins gold at Commonwealth Games months after getting her leg amputated


“A phenomenal athlete” – Alice Tai wins gold at Commonwealth Games months after getting her leg amputated

Alice Tai

Alice Tai, an English para-swimmer, won the Commonwealth gold medal on Sunday in Birmingham, just a few months after having her right leg amputated. At the Sandwell Aquatics Center, the 23-year-old won the S8 100m backstroke for England. After winning in Gold Coast four years prior, it was her second Commonwealth title, but, as she acknowledged, it was much more unexpected.

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Due to her bilateral talipes (club foot), Tai had to undergo many procedures as a small child, which caused her to experience growing discomfort subsequently and necessitated the use of crutches as a mobility aid. But because of the strain on her arms, she had to withdraw from the Tokyo Paralympics last year and needed surgery on both elbows. She questioned again about the potential of having her right foot removed while undergoing rehabilitation and having mobility issues.

“I didn’t think I would be able to race this season,” Tai told BBC Sport. “I’m so grateful that Team England let me come here and compete”. “After the operation, I couldn’t use crutches or self-propel a wheelchair, so using an electric wheelchair was my only option,” she told the BBC’s Access All podcast on the evening of the Games.

“I knew if I had the amputation I would have a better quality of life if it went well. It made sense and it was the right time”. “It took me a while to realize how dramatic an option it was. I had mulled it over so much in my own head for many years so it was almost normal. “As a Paralympian, I see amputees all the time with varying degrees of mobility but I know for everyone else it was a big deal.”

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Alice overcomes her leg amputation with an overwhelming victory

Alice Tai
Alice Tai

After having her leg amputated below the knee via surgery, Alice Tai, who won seven gold medals at the 2019 Para-swimming World Championships in London, had to relearn how to swim competitively under the guidance of the coach Dave Heathcock at the Ealing Swimming Club.

She competed for the first time internationally in the Para-swimming World Championships in June in Madeira, where she won silver in the S8 100-meter freestyle to qualify for the Commonwealth Games. She got off to a sluggish start and fell behind Paralympic champion Tupou Neiufi of New Zealand early on before showcasing her strength to the Birmingham audience.

“I’ve had so much to learn,” she admitted. “I had to strip all my strokes back to the basics to make sure I am even in the water, but my stroke efficiency is better than it was”. “My coach reckons I can go faster because of that, so once we work on the technical stuff, I think my times could be quicker than before”.

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“My start can be better, but we don’t know how I can balance best on the blocks, and also my stroke into the turn keeps changing as I get fitter”. “I won relay gold in Rio which is awesome but I really want an individual title in Paris in 2024.” Alice Tai said.

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