JUNIORS LINE UP FOR EUROPEAN CHALLENGE
A squad of 36 British swimmers has been selected to compete
at the most important meet of the year for up-and-coming talent
within the European ranks.
British Swimming selectors today unveiled those athletes
who have gained the necessary qualification to contest the
European Junior Championships in Palma De Mallorca, Spain
this July.
Heading up the squad will be Fran Halsall (City of Liverpool),
Jess Dickons (Borough of Stockton), Lizzie Simmonds (Lincoln
Vulcans), Lewis Smith (Warrender) and Robbie Renwick (City
of Aberdeen).
The five athletes will swim at the juniors from 6th to 9th
July before joining up with the senior British team in Budapest
to compete for full European honours later the same month.
Director of World Class Programmes John Atkinson is confident
that, under the guidance of Head Coach Bill Pilczuk (Swansea
Performance), the team has the talent to excel against the
rest of Europe.
"The best result we've had at an offshore European Juniors
is a total of 12 medals," said Atkinson. "Our aim,
therefore, is to equal or surpass that total to show we're
continuing to improve as a swimming nation and we have an
influx of talent coming through.
"It's the most important meet of the season for the
junior swimmers but I'm sure they will all be there to swim
fast while representing their country.
"I'm confident they have the ability to not only match
but in some cases better the achievements of those British
teams which have impressed over recent years."
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