Swimming star Jessica-Jane Applegate has described feeling 'honoured' after receiving a prestigious lifetime achivement award.
The 26-year-old Paralympic swimmer from Burgh Castle, near Great Yarmouth, was at UEA Sportspark on Wednesday morning (December 21) for a surprise event to celebrate her ten years in the sport, during which she has won 37 medals.
She is the first swimmer to receive the lifetime membership award at the UEA.
Ms Applegate said: "I'm very shocked because I had no idea what was going on."
She also received a certificate of thanks from Great Yarmouth Borough Council.
"I'm really honoured to be given so many awards," she said.
"I think it's really nice. I'm the only swimmer to have got it. It's quite a big achievement."
Professor Daniel Richardson, vice-chancellor of the university, presented both Ms Applegate and her coach Alex Pinnegar with the lifetime membership awards.
He said: "It's an amazing achievement, ten years of success. I know the facilities we're in today have been very important to you in that success."
Ms Applegate burst onto the international swimming scene as a 15-year-old during the London Paralympics in 2012 when she won a gold medal.
Other career highlights have been receiving an MBE when she was 16-years-old, winning British para swimmer of the year award in 2015, and training in her back garden in a swim spa during the lockdown before winning a gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympic Games.
Ms Applegate has also campaigned for years for inclusion in sport and has fought for women to be allowed to compete in her classification at the Commonwealth Games.
This year was the first year that she was allowed to compete there and she won silver.
Councillor Graham Plant, mayor of Great Yarmouth, said: "She is one of the bright lights of Great Yarmouth. For young residents to have someone like Jessica-Jane to look up to is inspirational.
"We're really grateful to her for everything she has achieved," he added.
Mr Pinnegar, who has been coaching Ms Applegate for 12 years, said: "It's a massive honour and really humbling because of the fantastic history of the club and swimming in Norwich."
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