A DISABLED woman says her dreams of competing as a swimmer at the Paralympics have been shattered after bosses ruled she was not eligible to compete.
Michelle Murphy-Wright, 25, was told by the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA), organiser of the Plymouth Paralympic trial, that she could not take part in Paralympic swimming trials, despite having been talent-spotted for the event.
The event was a talent identification session for disabled people who could swim at least 25 metres, held at the Plymouth Life Centre.
Mrs Murphy-Wright, of Kingsley Avenue, Torpoint, suffers from Asperger's syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos type 3, which affects mobility associated with secondary fibromyalgia, chronic asthma and sensory integration disorder. She also has scotopic sensitivity syndrome, which affects eyesight, and curvatures of the spine called scoliosis and kyphosis.
She was told by the ASA organisers she did not fit into any three categories of a physical disability, visual impairment or impairment of intellectual IQ below 75 and could not take part.
Mrs Murphy-Wright said: "It not only shattered years of dreams, it broke my heart into small pieces, which then felt crushed when nobody e-mailed to explain or apologise.
"I have just lost all hope; I haven't been in a leisure centre, let alone in a pool, since."
Mrs Murphy-Wright said she had dreamed of being a Paralympic swimmer since she was young and had collected Paralympic memorabilia throughout her life.
The day before the Paralympic trial, ASA organisers sent Mrs Murphy-Wright an e-mail explaining she couldn't attend, but offered no explanation as to why.
Mrs Murphy-Wright said: "All my life I've been unable to do certain sports or certain activities because of my disabilities, and now I'm being excluded from the very thing I should be allowed to take part in – sports for people with disabilities.
"I e-mailed them saying they must have made a mistake or a mix-up with forms, as I fit into almost every single category – physical, mental, sight and sensory."
Mrs Murphy-Wright used to go swimming every Sunday at Plymouth Life Centre with the Pisces Swimming Club, where she was talent- spotted by two people, including a coach of the ASA Paralympic team. She had been training for the Paralympic trials for two years and lost three and a half stone during training.
A spokesman for the Amateur Swimming Association said in response: "British Swimming follows the International Paralympics Committee (IPC) Swimming Classification rules and regulations with regard to eligible impairments for para-swimming.
"Unfortunately, none of Michelle's conditions meet the eligibility criteria set by the IPC for the Paralympic Pathway and as such she was not able to attend the day in Plymouth.
"We sincerely hope that Michelle continues to enjoy swimming in the future."