Bethany Firth wins 200m S14 freestyle heat in Montreal Bethany Firth won her heat in the 200m freestyle S14 category at the IPC World Championships in Montreal in a personal best time on Monday. The 17-year-old London Paralympics gold medallist from Seaforde came home in two minutes 13.78 seconds and was the second fastest qualifier for the final. Great Britain's Jessica Applegate, the world record holder, was the fastest qualifier with 2:11.71. Firth is taking part in three events at the championships. The teenager is one of a six-strong Ireland team which is taking part in the event in Canada. Firth took gold in the 100m backstroke in London in a time of 1:08.93 but has since improved her personal best in the event to 1:05.76. In addition to the 200m freestyle, Firth will compete in the 100m backstroke and 100m breaststroke on Wednesday and Friday respectively. Rostrevor man Laurence McGivern will swim in the 100m backstroke. McGivern, who finished eighth in the event at last year's Paralympics, will be in action in his individual event on the final day of the Championships which take place from 12-19 August. Firth will be joined in the Ireland team by another London Paralympics gold medallist Darragh McDonald. McDonald will swim his London gold medal event the 400m freestyle as well as the 50m and 100m freestyle. The other members of the Irish team are Ellen Keane, James Scully and Jonathan McGrath. McGivern, McDonald, Scully and McGrath will also compete in the 4x100m freestyle relay in the Canadian city.