Young & Talented Cornwall, The Lord Lieutenant’s Fund, has awarded a 16-year old swimmer a grant for £1,500 to support the elite training costs of this aspiring Olympian.

Turaya Evans, from Illogan, has been swimming since the age of four – and holds an impressive record of achievement.

“Turaya is an extremely talented young swimmer,” said Colonel Edward Bolitho OBE, Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, who heads up Young & Talented Cornwall.

“But what we were especially impressed by was her work ethic.

"Not only does Turaya have a real drive to succeed, but she is a positive role model for other young swimmers – sharing her skills and experience with them in her own time, which is very commendable.

“Turaya is certainly one to watch and I, for one, cannot wait to see her flying the flag for Cornwall and Great Britain in the future.

A record holder in both junior and senior Cornwall County Championships, Turaya has been the south west regional champion at 100 metres backstroke since she was 11 and has maintained a top 10 national ranking in backstroke for the last six years.

But the accolades don’t stop there. Turaya won the gold medal for 100m backstroke at the National Championships in 2017 and, in April this year, competed in the British Championships in Glasgow - gaining a silver medal for the under 16 age group.

Impressed by her commitment and determination, Young & Talented Cornwall has awarded her a the grant towards the fees and associated costs of attending a specialist swimming academy in Mallorca, for which she has also won a scholarship.

The academy combines elite swimming training with a BTEC qualification from Loughborough University.

Young & Talented Cornwall supports talented young Cornish people undertaking a range of activities including sport, the arts, science and music. The fund seeks to provide grants to the county’s brightest prospects who otherwise lack the means to pursue their dreams fully.

Turaya said: “I am absolutely ecstatic to receive this grant and I would like to take this opportunity to express my whole hearted thanks and appreciation to The Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall and his panel for this most generous award.”

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