Applegate competes in the S14 classification for swimmers with intellectual disabilities, mainly freestyle and backstroke preferring shorter distances.

[4][5] Educated at Ormiston Venture Academy, by the age of 13 she was setting regional records and was selected for a UK sporting talent programme.

[6] Towards the end of 2011, Applegate was showing potential as an International competitive swimmer, setting the second-fastest world Paralympic time in the 50m and the third fastest in the 200m freestyle at the Wales Winter Open.

In taking the gold she not only finished four seconds inside the Great Britain Paralympic qualifying time but also set a new British record.

[8] Her last major meet before the Paralympics, the 2012 British International Disability Swimming Championships, saw Applegate win three medals.