A talented 19-year-old swimmer who competed nationally says she lost all of her confidence due to her continuously fainting during competitions. Carys Havard, from Crickhowell, swam competitively at Welsh national level for three years and had aspirations to swim at British level, but astonishingly she later realised she’d been swimming nine times a week while suffering with a serious respiratory condition which was causing her to faint in the water.
The former Crickhowell High School pupil, who is now a student of medicine at Keele University, was finally diagnosed with laryngomalacia after years of desperately struggling for breath while in the pool. “I’d start swimming and when I’d get out of breath and wheeze everyone thought it was asthma, and so did I,” she told WalesOnline from her home in Powys where she is now preparing for the Miss Wales final on May 8.
“I used to have to stop often. I’d faint in the pool during competitions because I wouldn’t want to stop. I was told I was faking my condition and being lazy. People started not to believe me and in my head I actually started to ask myself whether I was making it up without realising.
“In January 2019 I stopped swimming. I was really struggling with confidence. It was a decision made by me and my doctor who said it was too dangerous with me passing out in the pool. At that point I got so low, but the doctors said it wasn’t in my best interests physically or mentally to carry on competing."
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Carys says she “vowed to not swim again” as a result of her ordeal, but her new Miss Wales mission has brought her back to the pool in typically competitive fashion. She has swam 50km at her university pool to raise money for Miss Wales charity Beauty With A Purpose - a culmination of a gruelling three years.
“My symptoms didn’t end after I stopped swimming competitively,” she explained. “Even walking up the stairs or walking to school and talking to people would make me out of breath.”
After four years of suffering badly with the condition she was finally diagnosed in March 2020. “It’s been such a long journey and it’s been hard. The day I was diagnosed was the day they cancelled all non-elective surgeries in Wales so I couldn’t have it treated for 18 months.”
It was in her hospital bed in November 2021 while recovering from the operation that she came across the Beauty With A Purpose charity. “I’ve always pushed myself in sports and academically, and when I saw the ad for Miss Wales and the work they do for underprivileged children in Wales I really wanted to get involved.” Miss Wales finalists have raised more than £750,000 for the charity which goes straight into helping provide opportunities to disadvantaged children in Wales.
“It really struck a chord with me,” she said. “I want to raise awareness of the lack of opportunities for young people from rural areas like Crickhowell for competitive academic courses such as medicine, and Miss Wales has given me a platform to do that.
“That’s been my main focus during this process and it will be afterwards. Some students in rural areas have a lack of opportunities and they may fall into teenage pregnancy, marriage, and then they might not feel they are worthy of pursuing other avenues.
“I want to encourage young people that just because there might be only one person you know who has done it, there are opportunities out there. I am now getting people reaching out to me asking for help with what they need to do with their applications, because they haven’t got anywhere to go and get tailored support to get them into good universities. I’m trying to get as many people as possible to realise how much of a serious issue this is in Wales.”
She has been surprised too at how Miss Wales has injected a newfound confidence in her which she says she has been missing for years. “There are a lot of myths and stereotypes about pageants that they’re superficial,” she said.
“I thought that too to be honest and they were always things I’d probably avoid because I’d never been told otherwise. But I had time in hospital to read about it and learn about the charity, and it really is something I want to do. It’s afforded me the chance to be an ambassador for Women’s Aid, for example.
“Everyone who applies is really empowered to just be who they are. I have braces and I’m 5’2, but I’m here in the final of Miss Wales and I can’t believe it. I have really loved that about this whole process.”
Reflecting on her brilliant 50km achievement, she said: “It was huge. I’d lost all my confidence with swimming. If I was good at something and I’m not anymore, I tend to avoid it.
“I went into my shell after being told repetitively that I was faking my condition and that I wasn’t going to be good enough to pursue the British nationals.
“After the operation I was really looking to challenge myself with something but I knew I didn’t want to go straight back into competitive swimming. Miss Wales has given me the opportunity to get back in the water again.” To see all the finalists for Miss Wales and to vote head here.
In the pool she was swimming for the win, but on the catwalk she’s less focused on a podium place. “I’d of course like to try but I’ve never done anything like this before so it’s just brilliant to be there with those brilliant girls to be honest. Hopefully I can get through it without falling over on stage.
“My main aim was to push myself in a way I hadn’t before, and to raise awareness that all people struggle. I wanted to share that it’s not as easy as just getting in the pool or getting on the stage. It’s tough, and I want to show that you can still get out there and get your confidence back.”
