Fuelled by not only her love for the sport, but a sense of purpose and an opportunity to change perceptions, the Northern Irish Commonwealth champion was back competing just over seven months after daughter Charlotte had been born.

Her performances at the 2025 Aquatics GB Swimming Championships, in April 2025, earned her a place on the British team for the World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore, where she claimed two individual bronze medals and a relay gold.

Now, a further six months on, the 30-year-old has recorded her quickest time in the 100m Backstroke S14 event since setting the existing world record at Rio 2016.

“Words can’t even describe what it means,” said Firth, after achieving a time of one minute and 4.19 seconds in London, which was just 0.14 secs short of the landmark set nearly a decade ago.

“I’m a lot older now and I’ve had a baby, but I’m proving that you can come back and still compete at the top.

“Not a lot of women have done it and I feel like we need to change that a wee bit, which we can, we just need the right support.”

Bethany Firth recorded her quickest 100m Backstroke time since setting the world record in 2016, at the recent British Championships.

Photography Aquatics GB

The swimmer is full of praise for her “amazing” support network, which includes her husband and mother as well as the Sports Institute of Northern Ireland.

Firth hopes that her highly successful return to elite sport will be a catalyst for change across the United Kingdom and Ireland.

“I just didn't see people coming back (after pregnancy and childbirth) and I felt like men didn't have to choose, but women did and I just didn't like that,” she states. “Everyone assumed, when I announced I was pregnant, that was it, but I never announced that I was retiring and I wanted to show them, no, you can do both.

“I just really want to show her (daughter Charlotte), that women can do it, that we don’t have to choose and I want to be a really strong role model.

The six-time World champion continues; “Trying to balance life as an athlete and as a mum is probably the toughest thing that I’ve ever done and I do have doubts sometimes, but I know she’ll be proud that I’m here and trying really hard.”

Firth has started a new medal collection, seperate to ones won before she became a mother.

Photography @bethany_firth

Firth won Paralympic gold for Ireland at London 2012 before switching to represent Great Britain at Rio 2016. There she successfully defended her 100m Backstroke S14 title, but also collected additional gold medals in the 200m Individual Medley and 200m Freestyle.

The latter of those is part of the medal programme for Glasgow 2026 where she is aiming to represent Northern Ireland and retain the crown claimed at Birmingham 2022.

“I'm really excited for the Commonwealth Games,” states Firth, with a beaming smile. “The 200 free (Freestyle S14), wouldn’t be my best event, but just to go there and be there for Northern Ireland will make me so proud.

“Charlotte will definitely be there and that's a bit part of why I just want to do it. I want her to see my little face and know that even if it's not about a medal, it's about trying hard, I showed up and led by example as a mum and as an athlete.”

First is aiming to return to the Commonwealth Games podium for Northern Ireland at Glasgow 2026.

Photography Commonwealth Sport

The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will run from 23 July to 2 August, with the Swimming, as well as Para Swimming, programme taking place between 24-29 July. To find out how you can attain tickets to watch some of the greatest athletes on the planet, CLICK HERE.