LIBBY Gotta is excited to be competing in the European Deaf Championships in Poland next week.

The 13-year-old, from Burford, will be taking on competitors from 20 countries as she makes her debut as a member of Great Britain’s 19-strong team.

Gotta, who is a member of Wantage White Horses, will be competing in eight events in as many days at the event in Lublin, which starts on Monday.

“Libby’s very excited to be representing Britain,” said her mother Rebecca. “She has worked very hard to get there.”

Her daughter, who became profoundly deaf two years ago after struggling with her hearing from the age of four, has made her mark in mainstream swimming.

This year, she swam in the South East Regional Championships in Crawley, where she won a bronze medal in the 14 years 400m individual medley and finished sixth in the 200m race.

Gotta switched a year ago from the City of Oxford club to Wantage, where she trains 12 hours a week under the guidance of coach Bruce Rennie, a move that has benefited her.

“At Oxford, Libby was just one of many talented swimmers,” explained Rebecca.

“She has flourished since moving to a smaller club and her times have improved significantly and she now beats some of her former clubmates.”

In Poland, Libby will be competing against swimmers much older than herself, as there are no age group classification in these championships.

“Libby still has a chance to reach the final of her two strongest events – 400m IM and 200m backstroke – and an outside chance of a medal,” said her mother.

The Burford School pupil’s successful swimming career has put a burden on the family finances.

Deafness is not recognised under the International Paralympic Classification and therefore not included in paralympic competition.

This means that it does not attract any funding from British Swimming, the National Lottery or Sport England.

Therefore the costs involved in representing Britain – travelling, accommodation, team kit and the provision of a coach – are all borne by the competitor.

This trip will cost in the region of £1,500 and it is will be much more should Libby qualify for next year’s World Championships in Brazil.

But the only thing the Gotta family are concentrating on at present is doing well in Poland.