The youngest ever Commonwealth Games medal winner has been barred from competing in the 2016 Paralympics in Rio because she is considered no longer disabled enough.

Erraid Davies from Shetland, took part in a classification review at Tollcross International Swimming Centre and was deemed “ineligible” to compete in the qualification round.

The 13-year-old, who was the youngest ever competitor when she won bronze in the women's 100m Breaststroke SB9 category final and became a national hero had her classification reviewed by medics.

The Herald:

Medical specialists in Glasgow said her physical impairment was no longer severe enough to allow her to compete in a disabled event.

Erraid, who has Perthes disease which affects her hip bones and joints, must now await a second opinion.

The decision prevents her from taking part in the upcoming British Para Swimming International Meet, which is part of the qualifying process for Rio.

Erraid, who was also Team Scotland's youngest ever Commonwealth Games competitor in 2014, has been raising money to help pay for her training fees to prepare for the Paralympics trials.

She started swimming after developing a rare hip condition called Perthes' disease when she was three which prevented her playing most sports.

Both Andy Murray's mother, Judy, and Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond, were quick to take to their Twitter accounts and congratulate Erraid on her bronze at the Glasgow games, and even began trending on the social networking site.

The Herald:

She was first taken swimming by her parents at the age of four, and her parents said her condition meant she could barely walk.

A spokeswoman for Scottish Swimming said: "In line with IPC classification process, Erraid Davies of Delting Dolphins in Shetland, undertook a classification review at Tollcross International Swimming Centre, and has been deemed ineligible to compete in the forthcoming British Para Swimming International Meet.

"Standard protocol following such a review outcome is for Erraid to be seen again and arrangements are being made for this.

"While Erraid and her family are extremely upset and disappointed with the outcome, they welcome the opportunity of a second review and both Scottish Swimming and British Swimming are supporting them at this time."

Perthes' disease is a condition in which the top of the thigh bone and the hip soften, affecting the hip joint.

The Herald:

It affects an estimated one in 9,000 children and experts are still unsure what causes it.

Children with the condition experience pain during certain types of physical activity and can develop a limp. Others can suffer from arthritis in later life.

Some children recover without treatment but others need to use a wheelchair or crutches and sometimes have to undergo an operation to re-shape the bone.

The SB9 class describes minimal physical impairments of eligible swimmers. These include the loss of one hand or a movement restriction in one hip joint.