SWIMMERS OUT TO TASTE FIRST OLYMPIC SUCCESS
A squad of British Swimming's brightest prospects will face
what for most will be their first international test as part
of the multi-sport team contesting the European Youth Olympic
Festival in Italy.
The swimmers, competing under the British Olympic Association
flag, are finalising their preparations before the swimming
events get underway in Lignano on Monday when the most talented
youngsters in Europe go head-to-head.
The bi-annual event has proved to be a breeding ground for
Britain's sporting stars of the future with Olympic medallist
David Davies having attended the event four years ago.
And Head Coach Graham Bassi is confident the athletes, selected
to the total team of 56 across seven different sports, will
rise to the challenge as they take their first steps along
the road to success at Olympic Games of the future.
"I feel very privileged to be Head Coach of a very powerful
Youth Olympic team," said the Lincoln-based coach. "They
have a lot to live up to as we've performed outstandingly
over the past two Festivals but I'm confident they can meet
that challenge.
"We have a group that are about to emerge on the national
and international scene, and coach Nick Juba (Hatfield) and
myself are excited about working with the future of British
Swimming.
"In 2003 swimming won 17 of Britain's total of 23 medals.
This comprised four gold, five silver and eight bronze. It's
definitely going to be a lot to live up to but I feel we've
got a squad of swimmers that could not only match that set
of results but could go beyond."
The 16-strong British Swimming team to attend the
European Youth Olympic Festival is as follows: Lizzie
Simmonds (Lincoln Vulcans); Ellen Gandy (Beckenham); Ceri
Unwin (Hatfield); Helena Thornton (Nova Centurion); Lauren
Collins (City of Birmingham); Adam Brown (Hatfield); Jonathan
Cook (Nova Centurion); Michael Newell (Aquabears); Marco Loughran
(Guildford City); Steven Beckerleg (Plymouth Leander); Stuart
Houston (Ren 96); Chris Fox (Wolverhampton); Robert Matthews-
Stroud (Wycombe District); Chloe Hart (Beckenham); Max Partridge
(City of Sheffield); Grant Turner (Tigersharks).
The European Youth Olympic Festival takes place in Lignano,
Italy from 3-8 July. The swimming programme runs over four
days from 4-8 July with a rest day on 6 July and includes
the following events: Freestyle 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m
(G), 1500m (B),
Backstroke 100m, 200m,
Breaststroke 100m, 200m,
Butterfly 100m, 200m,
Individual medley 200m, 400m,
4x100m Medley relay
4 x 100m Freestyle relay
4 x 200m Mixed Freestyle relay (2 boys/2 girls)
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