Commonwealth Games: English swimmer wins gold months after leg amputation

English Para-swimmer Alice Tai won a remarkable gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, just months after having her right leg amputated. 

Tai emerged victorious in the S8 100m backstroke to claim her second Commonwealth Games gold at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre in Birmingham. 

The 23-year-old was born with bilateral talipes, otherwise known as ‘club feet’, which subsequently led to her undergoing several operations as a junior. 

In 2019, Tai won seven golds at the 2019 Para-swimming World Championships in London as well as four golds at the 2018 European Championships. 

She also won gold in the 4x100m medley (34pts) at Rio 2016 but was unable to defend her title because of an elbow injury. 

The English swimmer continued to struggle with her mobility and questioned whether she’d be able to compete in Birmingham this year. 

However, earlier this year Tai underwent surgery to have her leg amputated below the knee, forcing her to re-evaluate how to swim at the elite level.