Kildare swimmer Aoife (12) wins 4 gold medals at national competition

It was a great weekend for promising young Kildare swimmer Aoife Doran, 12, as she made swimming history by winning gold in 4 out of 5 events in the McCullagh International in Bangor Co Down last Saturday, February 24.

Young Aoife lives in Broadford North Kildare with her three older brothers and she is the fourth child and only daughter in the family.

Aoife is in 6th class in Cadamstown NS near Johnstownbridge and she is a member of the Aer Lingus swim club where she trains with their senior squad and she is also a member of the Leinster squad.

Aoife is believed to be the first Kildare girl to have qualified for the 2019 McCullagh International swimming competition and she picked up four gold medals after competing in five events. Aoife won the gold medal in the 400m freestyle class with an excellent time of 4:52:34 as well as scooping a gold medal in the 200m Medley class.

She also came in first place in the 200m breaststroke and as well as the 200m backstroke classes at the McCullagh International.

Speaking to the KildareNow this week, her proud father David Doran said that they 'couldn't be prouder' of Aoife's achievements.

Indeed, it's been an exciting year for young Aoife and last February she was named the champion for the second time in the space of six months when she claimed gold in the 100m breaststroke class at the Irish Minor National Championships in the National Aquatic Centre.

The talented sixth class student holds a number of records with the Aer Lingus Swim Club, whom she joined at a young age and where she trains five times a week. Aoife has been swimming since the age of two and 2019 is already looking to be a great year for Aoife with plenty of more swimming competitions coming up!