TEAM NAMED FOR SWIMMING WORLD CUP
British Swimming has announced its 18-strong squad to take
on some of the globe's best athletes at the Visa Paralympic
World Cup in Manchester this May.
The team, 16 of them medallists at the IPC World Championships
in Durban last year, will compete at the day-long championships
at the Manchester Aquatics Centre (MAC) on Saturday 12 May.
Top ten in the world-ranked athletes in each of the 17 events
have been invited to attend which means some of the country's
best-known swimmers will be in action at the MAC, in a team
that also comprises a group of the country's most promising
junior athletes.
In 2006 Britain was the most successful nation in the pool
with five gold, two silver and two bronze medals, but a change
in the programme means none of the GB swimmers will be defending
their titles.
However, 10 swimmers from last year's competition are back
this year, including World Champions Dave Roberts, Sascha
Kindred and Natalie Jones. And newcomers Emma Cattle, Jonathan
Fox and Matt Whorwood will also be looking to impress on their
first World Cup outing.
The Visa Paralympic World Cup comes during an intensive phase
of racing for the British athletes that will see the country's
best competing at ASA Regional Championships, the British
International Disability Swimming Championships (formerly
the DSE Championships) and the German Open Championships.
British Disability Swimming Performance Director Tim Reddish
is looking forward to strong performances from the team.
"The Visa Paralympic World Cup gives our athletes the
opportunity to improve on their performances at the World
Championships or reaffirm their position as World number one,"
he said.
"It's good to see the young guys competing in the top
ten on the world stage and its credit to them and their coaches
that they're up there at this age. They'll be hoping to improve
on their rankings going into the competition."
Now in its third year, the Visa Paralympic World Cup is an
annual multi-sport competition featuring swimming, athletics,
wheelchair basketball and track cycling. In 2006 more than
350 athletes from 45 countries were involved and this year's
event is set to be better than ever.
Swimmers selected for the squad are as follows:
Kenny Cairns (Port Glasgow Otters)
Claire Cashmore (Kelly College)
Emma Cattle (Luton)
James Crisp (City of Sheffield)
Gareth Duke (Swim Swansea)
Jonathan Fox (Newquay Cormorants)
David Hill (Kelly College)
Liz Johnson (Swim Swansea)
Natalie Jones (Colchester Phoenix)
Sascha Kindred (Leominster Kingfisher)
Rachel Latham (Bolton Metro)
Nyree Lewis (Leominster Kingfisher)
David Roberts (Swim Swansea)
Anthony Stephens (Swim Swansea)
Matt Walker (Marple)
Louise Watkin (Kelly College)
Fran Williamson (Colchester Phoenix)
Matt Whorwood (Newquay Cormorants)
The following events have been confirmed:
Male:
50m and 100m MD Freestyle.
SM6 200m Individual Medley
SB6 100m Breaststroke
S9 100m Backstroke
S3 100m Freestyle
S7 50m Freestyle
S5 100m Freestyle
S11 100m Backstroke
Female;
50m and 100m MD Freestyle.
SM6 200m Individual Medley
S6 100m Backstroke
S10 100m Backstroke
S3 50m Backstroke
S9 100m Freestyle
S8 100m Butterfly
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