A SYNCHRONISED swimming champion with Downs Syndrome has won gold for Team GB at the Annual European Down Syndrome Swim Championships.

Vivian Novis, 16, took to swimming before she could walk and won the gold as part of a synchronised duet with team mate Molly Khan at the competition held in Paris.

The routine won them a silver at the world championships in Florence in 2016 and they scooped the gold after including more difficult moves.

Miss Novis said: “My mum says that when I first joined the Electric Eels it was very hard to get me to participate, but we kept going and found things to motivate me. Once I started winning medals, then I was hooked.

“I like winning medals, especially first place gold. I also enjoy the chance to socialise at discos and awards banquets to make friends. I have also been able to travel to places, like Spain, Italy, and France.”

She moved to Marlborough last year after her father, the Rev Tim Novis, became chaplain at Marlborough College and she attends Crowdys Hill College Sixth Form in Swindon.

Miss Novis has been training with the Windsor-based Electric Eels since 2009 and director of swimming at Electric Eels Pauline Walker said: “We are the only swimming club in the country for people with Downs Syndrome which teaches beginners to competition level.

“Many have siblings who don’t have Downs Syndrome so it gives them the chance to access swimming like all other children.”

Ms Walker praised the hard work of volunteer synchronised swimmers from Reading who coached Miss Novis in the build up the competition and even travelled to Paris to see their hard work pay off.

Miss Khan also won silver in the solo synchronised competition and Henry Paxton became the first male to take part in synchronised swimming at competitive level.