SWINDON Dolphin Para athlete Suzanna Hext will cap off an incredible 2019 by representing Team GB at the British Para Championships in London later this year.

The former European Para dressage triple gold medallist only turned her attention to swimming in 2017 and since then has gone from strength to strength in the water.

Hext continued to develop her skillset in the pool before making 2019 her best yet as she made her debut in long course races, set national records and was selected for Team GB.

But before she enters the pool for her country in September, the Swindon Dolphin member has also qualified for the British Summer Swimming Championships in Glasgow at the end of July where she will be competing in the 50m, 100m and 200m Freestyle.

Hext, who previously evented at international level, had an accident breaking on a young horse in July 2012 which resulted in a spinal cord injury, head injury – causing dystonia, diplopia and vestibular issues – as well as a severely broken pelvis.

After getting back in the saddle two years after her accident, Hext opted to start swimming to improve her fitness before discovering her elite ability.

Classified as an S5 Para athlete, Hext only entered her first long course competition – the BUCS Long Course Swimming Championships in Sheffield – back in February.

The Swindonian took three seconds off her short course 100m Freestyle PB set in Nottingham before setting a new GB S5 Long Course Record with a time of 37.32 in the 50m.

At the end of April, Hext was invited to compete in the British Para-Swimming International in Glasgow which also served as the qualifying meet for the World Para Championships.

After a physically draining week in Glasgow, Hext was selected to represent Team GB at the World Para Championships in the 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle.

Hext now has her sights set firmly on competing at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics representing Team GB in both sports.