City of Bradford swimmer Sian Morgan is set to take the plunge for the first time in the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, next month.

Sian, 16, was identified as a swimming sensation at the age of 13 and has been coached by Andy Pearce, at Bradford Council’s Aquatics Programme, for the last six years.

She will be the first City of Bradford swimmer to compete in the games.

“I’m so happy all the hard work has paid off,” said Sian, of Ilkley.

“It has been a difficult year trying to balance my school work and sitting my GCSEs with training and trials.

“I can’t wait to get to India. I hope it will be the best experience of my life.”

Sian was one of the first beneficiaries of Bradford Council’s and SportsAid’s B-active sports grants, receiving £1,000 to help her develop her skills in the run-up to the Olympic Games in London.

She competed in the final Commonwealth trials in Sunderland at the beginning of the month and was selected to swim for Wales.

She qualified as the youngest swimmer of the Welsh swiming team because her dad is Welsh.

Sian’s coach, Mr Pearce, said: “We have been targeting these games for the last four years.

“She has worked very hard over this time and now this is the reward for all her work.”

This year alone Bradford Council and SportsAid have provided just under £25,000 of funding for athletes in the district who are identified as having the potential to go on to compete at a senior international level.

Councillor the Reverend Paul Flowers, the executive member with responsibility for culture, tourism and sport, said: “We are delighted that Sian is now competing at an international level.”