Letton-Jones takes on Worlds with Paralympic ambitions

Growing up with a condition that limited her vision to little more than a metre, Ela Letton-Jones never imagined sport could be a full-time occupation.

So it was little surprise that she cried with happiness on learning she would represent Great Britain at this week's World Para Swimming Championships.

"My mum was there when I got the call and we were both crying, it was a really nice moment," said the 18-year-old.

"I was really shocked, I was just not expecting it at all, it took a few days to sink in."

Letton-Jones has albinism, a congenital condition that severely affects her sight, so has to count her strokes to know when she is approaching the wall of the swimming pool.

But that has not let that stop her from following her dream to reach the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles.

After narrowly missing out in the Paris Games last year, the teenager from Felinheli, Gwynedd, was invited onto the Aquatics GB Para-swimming world class programme.

"I didn't realise it could be my job until I got on to the programme. I didn't realise people just swam," she said.

"It's the best of both worlds because I still get to go to uni and have that lifestyle and I've also got my other job, swimming, which I really enjoy as well."

She now trains with Caernarfon swimming club Nofio Gwynedd that has already produced two Olympians in Medi Harris and Mari Davies.

Her coach Bronwen Hill has been quick to sing her praises.

"Ela came to me after lockdown and she's improved masses," she said.

"She works really hard, she's really focused and that's why she's got where she is today.

"It [the World Championships] will be a wonderful experience for her, she hasn't done anything of this high level before. But it will focus her because international competition is something different."

Letton-Jones will compete in five events at the championships in Singapore from 21-27 September, starting with the S12 100m backstroke on Saturday.

The next target is flying the flag for Wales at next year's Commonwealth Games before the ultimate goal of Los Angeles in 2028.

"I just like holding the Welsh flag so I want to compete at the Commonwealth Games," he said.

"But I'd love to go to the Paralympics, that's my main goal. I'm just trying to work towards getting selected for that."

Aquatics GB Para-swimming team for Singapore 2025

Roan Brennan (S10/SB10/SM10)

Dylan Broom (S14/SB14/SM14)

Astrid Carroll (S12/SB12/SM12)

Ellie Challis (S3/SB2/SM3)

Rhys Darbey (S14/SB14/SM14)

Bruce Dee (S6/SB6/SM6)

William Ellard (S14/SB14/SM14)

Louise Fiddes (S14/SB14/SM14)

Bethany Firth (S14/SB14/SM14)

Grace Harvey (S6/SB5/SM6)

Ela Letton-Jones (S12/SB12/SM12)

Poppy Maskill (S14/SB14/SM14)

Olivia Newman-Baronius (S14/SB14/SM14)

Faye Rogers (S10/SB10/SM10)

Georgia Sheffield (S14/SB14/SM14)

Harry Stewart (S14/SB14/SM14)

Alice Tai (S8/SB8/SM8)

Mark Tompsett (S14/SB14/SM14)

Cameron Vearncombe (S14/SB14/SM14)

Brock Whiston (S8/SB8/SM8)

Kieran Williams (S10/SB10/SM10)

Iona Winnifrith (S7/SB7/SM7)