Hayley’s journey started at swim school, followed by the Grantham Lynx Swimming club for the disabled. And having steadily built her confidence, she “tried out” Grantham Swimming Club.
She has flourished. Two years ago, she swam 50m freestyle in one minute two seconds, now it’s 42 seconds. And her 100m freestyle has gone from 2:20 to 1:38.
Her head coach at Grantham, Maciej Rakowski, believes she has the potential, talent and determination to make Rio 2016.
He said: “Everyone develops differently, but she has been developing massively the past couple of years. And if she keeps going as she has been, then I think she can go into the Paralympics.”
Hayley also harbours that hope, saying: “It is in the back of my mind I am trying to head that way. But I think my mum is more excited than me!”
And Sharon can dare to allow herself the chance to dream too.
“It’s something we cannot dismiss but it is a long way ahead of us,” she said. “It all depends on so much. So much can go wrong with injuries and all sorts. But I think she has as good a chance as any to achieve.
“Her times are coming down; she has that determination about her, she is getting stronger and she is still young.”
But Sharon says Hayley’s beaming smile and cheery outlook is her biggest source of pride.
“She takes everything in her stride,” Sharon added. “We have never hidden anything from her about her condition; she just manages and gets on with it herself. She copes with everything. She is such a gutsy little thing.
“If she plays cards, she wants to win. She just has that personality.
“For her to deal with something so awful the way she does is amazing and we just realise how lucky we are.
“She’s a glass half-full type person. She’s not gloomy; she never moans or complains about her lot. We are so proud of her.”
