Paralympian praised for tackling disability stigma

Jessica-Jane Applegate received an honorary doctorate from Loughborough University

Paralympic swimmer Jessica-Jane Applegate has been praised for "helping to lift the cloud of limitation around disability" by the president of World Athletics.

Sebastian Coe presented the 28-year-old from Belton, Norfolk, with an honorary doctorate on Thursday in his role as chancellor of Loughborough University.

Applegate, who has Asperger's syndrome, won a gold medal in the 200m freestyle at the London 2012 Paralympic Games when she was 16.

Applegate said: "If I can be an advocate for young people with the same disabilities as me then I'm more than happy to do so if it makes their lives any easier or better – and to help other people better understand how to help people like me."

Coe told Applegate: "The work that you have done way beyond the pool, in helping to lift the cloud of limitation around disability and impairment for so many young people, has, frankly, been extraordinary."

Jessica-Jane Applegate was praised by Sebastian Coe for her advocacy work and sporting career

Applegate's has won seven Paralympic medals, alongside three World Para Championship golds and was awarded an MBE in 2013 for services to swimming.

She competes in the S14 category for athletes with an intellectual impairment, which World Para Swimming said can lead to "difficulties with regards to pattern recognition, sequencing and memory, or having a slower reaction time".

"I can't believe it," Applegate told BBC Radio Norfolk, "it was an exceptional day."

"It's really nice to be recognised not just for the sporting stuff. It wasn't until I was sat there listening to their speeches before and I was like, 'I have actually achieved quite a lot really, when you look at it'."

"But I'm just me, plodding along and doing my thing. You don't really consider what you've done, you're always looking to achieve more."

Applegate is a patron for Aspens and an ambassador for Mencap and Virtus, three charities that support people with learning disabilities in their work.

Jessica-Jane Applegate spent time with Prince Harry at the London 2012 Paralympics

Applegate has spoken about the difficulties of "invisible disabilities" on social media and she has 220,000 followers on TikTok.

When asked about her future, she said: "I just did the Beccles Lido 12.5km swim, from the Waveney River Centre all the way over to the lido.

"I'm just enjoying my time at the moment. I'm still swimming to keep fit and active, and if anything else pops up I'm sure I'll be doing that.

"But just looking forward to what the future brings."