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Kara Hanlon's incredible swimming journey has taken her from a 12.5m pool on the Isle of Lewis to being one swim away from achieving a lifelong dream: qualifying for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Growing up in Stornoway and training in a pool just a quarter of the size of an Olympic-sized pool, Kara’s nearest mainland competition was a six-hour journey away. Reliant on the local ferry schedule, the reality of island life meant Kara and her family had to sacrifice more than most if she was to become a world class swimmer.

This behind-the-scenes film offers a unique insight into Kara’s swimming story. We see where her journey began and follow her attempts to qualify for the Olympics. From conquering the Island Games to breaking Scottish records, becoming British champion and being the first Western Isles swimmer to represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Games, viewers learn how Kara grew to become one of the shining lights on the British Swimming scene.

Now a full-time athlete at the University of Edinburgh, at the most pivotal point in her career, ´óÏó´«Ã½ ALBA takes a deep dive into the world of elite sport as we join Kara and her coach behind the scenes in training and at high profile competitions as she prepares for her biggest test of all – qualifying for the upcoming Paris Olympics.

We are at the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships in London, to see if Kara can make history and become the first swimmer from the Western Isles to make it to an Olympic Games?

Tha a dreuchd iongantach aig Kara Hanlon air a dhol bho amar-snàmh 12.5m a dh’fhaid an Eilean Leòdhais gu aon rèis shnàmh air falbh bho amas fad beatha a’ ruighinn: na Geamaichean Oilimpigeach ann am Paris 2024.

A’ fàs suas ann an Steòrnabhagh agus a’ trèanadh ann an amar-snàmh an cairteal a dh’fhaid na fear Oilimpigeach, bha an fharpais tìr-mòr a b’ fhaisge dha Kara sia uairean a thìde air falbh. A’ fuireach air eilean ‘s mar sin a’ feuchainn ri obaireachadh taobh a-staigh clàr-ama nam bàtaichean-aiseig, tha sin air ciallachadh gu bheil Kara agus a teaghlach air call a-mach à tòrr a bharrachd na mhòr chuid airson a bhith a’ farpais aig àrd-ìre san spòrs.

Seo film 45 mionaidean a dh’fhaid agus a tha a’ dol air cùl gnothaichean agus a’ cur sealladh eadar-dhealaichte air sgeulachd Khara. Tha sinn a’ faighinn a-mach càit’ an do thoisich a dreuchd aice an toiseach agus tha sinn ga leantainn a h-iomairt gus faighinn gu na Geamaichean Oilimpigeach. Bho shoirbheachais aig Geamaichean nan Eilean gu bhith a’ briseadh clàraidhean snàmh na h-Alba, a’ buannachadh Farpais Bhreatainn ‘s i cuideachd a’ chiad shnàmhadair às na h-Eileannan an Iar a-riamh a tha air Alba a’ riochdachadh aig Geamaichean a’ Cho Fhlaitheis, chì an luchd-amharc ciamar a tha Kara air fhaighinn gu bile an t-sluaigh ann an snàmh Breatainn.

A-nis na lùth-chleasaiche làn-ùine aig Oilthigh Dhùn-Eideann, aig a’ phàirt as cudromaiche sa dreuchd, tha ´óÏó´«Ã½ ALBA a’ leum a-staigh gu spòrs aig àrd ìre agus tha sinn a’ dol an cuide ri Kara agus a coidse gu trèanadh agus gu cuid dheth na farpaisean as cliùitiche ‘s i ag ullachadh airson an dùbhlan a bu mhotha aice a-riamh - a’ feuchainn ris na Geamaichean Oilimpigeach ann am Paris a’ ruighinn.
A’ leantainn a h-uile sian mar a thachras aig an Fharpais Snàmh GB ann an Lunnainn, an urrainn do Khara eachdraidh a dhèanamh mar a’ chiad shnàmhadair a-riamh às na h-Eileannan an Iar a tha air fhaighinn gu Geamaichean Oilimpigeach?

In Gaelic with English subtitles

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