Imi Clark

Imogen has suffered severe health problems from 6 months old. (Excema & asthma). The excema caused her to be wet wrapped from the age of 1 until it was brought under control. A severe asthma attack caused her to stay in intensive care at Sheffield Childrens Hospital for a week. Regular visits to hospital followed for 3 years with several major asthma attacks. She began to swim at Sharley Park, Clay Cross. She was spotted by Alan, the coach for Rykneld Swimming Club in 2008, she trialled, then became fulltime club member in January 2009. She has climbed the ranks within the club and is now in senior 'A' squad for past 2 years. She was invited to join Derventio excell development squad September 2010. From March 2011 she is now a full time Derventio excel swimmer (Derbyshire elite squad). At a recent Open Swimming Meet at Eckington in May 2011 she has beaten a record for the 50m freestyle that had stood since 2000, this record was held by Britains double olympic gold medallist, Rebecca Adlington, when Becky was 11 in 2000, Imogen beat this time by 0.48 seconds to remove Becky from the record books. She also beat another record that was set 25 years ago for another race. She has battled her illnesses and helped others, proving what can be achieved by determination and hard work. Imogen is an inspiration to lots of club swimmers and would be a very worthy torchbearer for next year and prove that ordinary people from ordinary backgrounds can achieve a dream.