BRITISH SWIMMING NOMINATES SWIMMERS FOR BEIJING PARALYMPIC GAMES

1 May 2008

British Swimming has today nominated thirty-six swimmers for the British team for the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. The squad features a mix of youth and experience, with 13-year-old Eleanor Simmonds, nominated for her first Games, while 45-year-old Jim Anderson will be potentially travelling to his fifth Games.

Simmonds, who is the youngest member of the squad is joined by other Paralympic debutants, including 14-year-old Elizabeth Simpkin, 19-year-old Kate Grey (Bristol/ Bath), 18-year-old Rachael Latham (Wigan) and 15-year-old Louise Watkin.

Paralympic champions Dave Roberts (Cardiff), Sascha Kindred (Hereford), Nyree Lewis (Hereford), Natalie Jones (Manchester) and Gareth Duke (Cwmbran) have also been nominated to travel to the Beijing Games with the goal of defending their titles and adding to their personal medal hauls. (For a full list of nominated athletes please see below).

British Swimming National Performance Director Tim Reddish said: "The team has a good mix of youth and experience, with 45% of the team potentially attending their first Paralympic Games. This is really pleasing because it will prove to be beneficial for all of our athletes, coaches and support staff," Reddish said. "The average age of this squad is younger than the one that competed in Athens and this demonstrates that the systems and programmes that British Swimming have in place are working well.

"It's pleasing to see that a number of records have fallen during the past two competitions. The priority is to break British records because this shows that as a nation we are improving but to see European and world records tumbling is a good indicator of where we are on the world stage.

"Our athletes and their coaches now need to focus upon their preparations for Beijing to continue improving and if they succeed in this I can see them being able to get in the hunt for medals at the Beijing Paralympic Games."

ParalympicsGB Chief Executive Phil Lane, said: "Swimming has traditionally been one of the most successful Paralympic sports in terms of medals at previous Games.  We are delighted to receive nominations for a squad of 36 athletes who we hope will continue this success in Beijing.

"The number of emerging youngsters that have been nominated for their first Paralympic Games is testament to how successfully British Swimming nurture and develop new talent but its also exciting to see so many established Paralympians returning to the ParalympicsGB squad to defend the titles won in Athens."

World Championship medallist Louise Watkin said: "I am overjoyed to have been nominated for my first Paralympic Games. It really has made all of the hard-work worthwhile. It looks like it will be a really exciting event.

"If I am selected I will be looking forward to the challenge of competing at the Paralympics, I know it will be like nothing I have ever been to before but I think I will be able to stay focused and do the best that I can."

Paralympic Champion Sascha Kindred said: "I am very excited to be nominated for my fourth Paralympic Games. I think the experience I have gained from the previous Games will help this year. My first Games in Atlanta was a real shock and I didn't know how to prepare myself for competition but now I know how to stay focused on the task in hand.

"The team has a great mix of young athletes and more experienced ones, I am looking forward to being able to pass on my knowledge and experience to the younger athletes and I think that will really benefit them. The great thing about the British Swimming team is that we have a really good team atmosphere and we all support each other."

The Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games opens on September 6 and closes on September 17. The swimming events at the Games take place at the National Aquatics Centre, also known as the Water Cube, from September 7 to 15.

At the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, Britain finished second in the medal table with a total of 35 golds, 30 silver and 29 bronze medals. With competitive standards continually rising and the dominant Chinese team taking the home advantage ParalympicsGB recognises that the 2008 Paralympics will be one of its biggest challenges yet.