Wimborne teenager Isabella Haynes hasn’t let the fact that she is a through-the-knee amputee put her off her determination to become swimming champion.

The Allenbourn School pupil is the latest winner of the John Thornton Young Achiever of the Year award, funded by Wimborne Rotary. Isabella’s ambition is to become a paralympic swimmer. The award comes with a bursary of £500 which, Isabella says, will help to make her dream more achievable.

She was first spotted by a British para talent officer when only eight years old, as a disabled youngster of outstanding talent. She went on with determination to develop her skills through regular coaching and training.

Isabella later achieved county, regional, and national level times, culminating in qualifying last December at the age of 13 for her first national competition, the British para swimming meet in Swansea. As a result of her performance, and having achieved three bronze medals there, she has now joined the Swim England para swimming talent programme.

More recently she has participated in the Junior Para Championship, a national event, at Coventry.

President of Wimborne Rotary, Jan Baseley, said: “We are delighted to be able to support such a talented and determined youngster as Isabella, and wish her every success with her future swimming career.”