Campaign Ambassador - Millie Smith

Name: Millie Smith           

Sports/Activities: Swimming, Athletics and Dance

Locality: St Albans

My sporting journey began when I was 3 years old - I liked to dance. It made me happy and joyful, but when I started primary school, I was encouraged to try many other sports which I had not done before. I have KBG syndrome which affects many areas of my body so when I participate in sport, it can sometimes be difficult, but my mum and Mrs Johnson, who was my PE teacher, always supported me to have a go and try lots of things. Similarly, Mrs Brewer has always been very helpful to allow me to participate in dance.

As I began trying more sports beyond dance, I discovered that I especially enjoyed swimming and athletics. I joined Special Olympics St Albans, which has been a fantastic experience, allowing me to train alongside others who face similar challenges. Due to my epilepsy, I swim wearing a specialist hat and in a lane close to the lifeguards, with a spotter for additional safety. With this support in place, I’ve been able to compete in various competitions, and I’m proud to have recently moved up a division in my swimming group.

My plan is to work towards the Special Olympics National Games in the summer and to try and get even faster, both on the track and in the pool. I have joined St Albans Athletics Club to also train more and enter more competitions. Doing sport is where I feel most happy and with the support I need, I feel I can continue to break my own records and try out even more activities!