Visually impaired sisters to compete for different teams at Commonwealth Games
Visually impaired sisters Astrid and Ursula Carol will compete for different teams at the upcoming Commonwealth Games, highlighting their individual achievements.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Visually impaired sisters Astrid and Ursula Carol will compete for different teams at the Commonwealth Games, which begin in Glasgow tomorrow. The pair, who have trained together since they were eight years old, will represent Scotland and England respectively in para-swimming events for athletes with visual impairments.
Both sisters were diagnosed with Stargardt's disease, a genetic disorder that affects the retina. Astrid described the condition as "like seeing through a doughnut or bubble wrap." To adapt, they rely on stroke counting and a strict training schedule of eight sessions a week, travelling an hour from Halifax to Stockport.
Astrid, who was born in Edinburgh, chose to represent Scotland. Ursula, born in Halifax, will swim for England. Despite their non-competitive nature, they are looking forward to racing each other. Ursula said: "I think both of us are really looking forward to just getting in and racing and seeing, from being able to turn that non-competitive sibling thing into a bit more like, let's get in the pool and race, a good race."
The sisters emphasised the importance of having each other's support at competitions, describing their relationship as a source of reliability and comfort in a daunting environment.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One |
|---|---|
| Astrid will represent Scotland and Ursula will represent England at the Commonwealth Games. | |
| The sisters train eight times a week, travelling from Halifax to Stockport. | |
| Two sisters have a degenerative eye condition called Stargardt's disease. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The channel focused on the personal story of the sisters, their visual impairment, and their decision to represent different countries. The tone was warm and supportive, highlighting their individual achievements and the bond between them. It included direct quotes from both sisters and the reporter's narration, with no political or controversial angles.
- “I was born in Edinburgh, and I lived there for the first couple of months of my life, so when it came to choosing what country to represent, I just really felt like a kin to Scotland, so I decided to represent them.”
- “I think both of us are really looking forward to just getting in and racing and seeing, from being able to turn that non-competitive sibling thing into a bit more like, let's get in the pool and race, a good race.”
Broadcast Timeline
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