A gifted young athlete swam and sprinted her way to victory in the first race against rivals in her new age group.

Ellie, a Year 9 pupil at Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls, won first place in the Tristar 3 category of the Pontypridd Aquathlon on Sunday, September 6.

The race saw the talented teenager swim 400 meters and swiftly put her trainers on to run 2.4km – all in just over 15 minutes.

Held to mark the re-opening of the historic Pontypridd Lido, the event took place at the Ynysangharad War Memorial Park.

Ellie said: “Although I was nervous, I really enjoyed the Aquathlon at Pontypridd Lido – it has just opened and was an amazing venue.

“This event was longer than my previous ones, but I enjoyed it and I am really interested in progressing further to the Welsh Tri Development Academy in the future”.

Ellie has recently been selected for the National Welsh Swim Squad, having been within the top three swimmers for her age group in Wales since February this year.

The promising competitor will attend The National Welsh Academy training camp in October with the prospect of qualifying for the British Swimming Squad.

Ellie has so far represented Wales in three events – the 50 and 100 meter backstroke, and the 400 meter individual medley.

The dedicated athlete trains for up to 16 hours each week in the pool, as well as attending Chepstow Harriers running club and school cross country events.