SERC Alumni Take on Tokyo Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games

The Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games are set to kick off on the 23rd of July 2021 in Tokyo and we are ready to cheer on SERC alumni hopefuls Bethany Firth and Rhys McClenaghan as they compete for Gold in their respective areas of expertise. 

Bethany studied on the Elite Athlete Programme - Pearson BTEC Level 3 90-Credit Diploma in Sport at SERC. She is a four-time Paralympic gold medallist, she has won gold in her specialist event, the 100 metres backstroke for both Ireland (2012 Summer Paralympics) and Great Britain (2016 Summer Paralympics). Bethany will be part of the Paralympics GB Swim Team this year. 

Rhys completed his BTEC Level 3 Sport course at SERC’s Bangor Campus in 2018 and has remained in contact with the College, continually providing inspiration. Rhys became the first Irish gymnast to win a World Championship medal and was awarded a British Empire Medal in the New Year Honours. He will be competing in the men’s Pommel Horse for Ireland.  

Lynda Robinson, SERC Deputy Head of School, Applied Science, Sport and Access to Education, said “I could not be prouder of the dedication and skill these two athletes put into their work. They were both very hard-working students, and this has translated evidently into their training. We all wish them the best of luck!”. 

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