Four years after her victory in Birmingham, Bethany Firth secured a bronze medal in the S14 200m freestyle at the Glasgow games. Clocking in at 2:07.63, the 30-year-old finished behind Team GB teammates Georgia Sheffield and Poppy Maskill. Despite missing the top spot, the achievement proved deeply meaningful as her daughter, Charlotte, watched from the stands.
This performance marks Firth’s first major podium finish since becoming a mother in August 2024. The swimmer admitted that the 200m freestyle has been particularly challenging to master since her return to the sport. She credited the presence of her daughter with helping her overcome pre-race doubts, noting that visualizing Charlotte’s support provided the necessary motivation to compete.
Firth, who recently broke her own world record in the 100m backstroke, continues to defy expectations regarding her retirement. While she remains a contender for future major events, she is currently balancing her training with the responsibilities of motherhood, preferring to evaluate her career on a year-by-year basis.
