Two alumni from Dorset school strike gold at the Paris Paralympics

Former Bournemouth Collegiate School student, Leo McCrea, swam his way to glory on Sunday 1 September as he won gold in the SB5 100m breaststroke final. Leo studied at BCS between 2015-2019.

A great start saw Leo two metres clear after the first length and he held off the competition to claim gold in 1:27.15 - his first Paralympics medal for Switzerland.

Sam Woodward, Head Swim Coach, commented: “We’re over the moon for Leo – what an achievement. It’s such a fitting result for an extremely talented swimmer – it’s been a pleasure to watch him grow and develop through his journey from training at BCS Prep, through to BCS Senior and beyond. He still trains at BCS and the whole team is proud of his achievements and can't wait to see him back at the training pool to pass on their congratulations.”

BCS Alumna, Alice Tai who was at the school between 2011 and 2015, became an individual Paralympic champion for the first time in Paris 2024, winning a Paralympic record time of 1:09.06 in the Women’s S8 100m Backstroke, representing Paralympics GB. The victory came less than three years on from having her right leg amputated.

Principal Maria Coulter said: “Becoming a gold medalist isn’t just about winning—it's about the relentless pursuit of excellence, dedication to every detail, and the heart of a champion, these were traits in Alice’s journey whilst at BCS. This gold represents not just victory, but a journey of passion and perseverance, we have loved watching Alice’s continued success since her days at BCS, she is an inspiration to so many young athletes.”

BCS Senior is an independent co-education school based in Southbourne, with a thriving Sixth Form and Boarding for girls and boys aged from 11.

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