about a year ago

In April 16 British swimmers, including double Paralympic gold medallist Ellie Simmonds, were officially selected for ParalympicsGB for the London 2012 Paralympic Games. A further 26 nominations from British Swimming were accepted by the BPA’s Qualification and Selection Panel subject to formal confirmation of the slots made available for London 2012 by IPC Swimming. These slots have now been confirmed and the swimmers have therefore been accepted as full team members.

These athletes are: James Anderson (Broxburn, West Lothian), Gemma Almond (Shrewsbury), Jack Bridge (R) (Preston), Charlotte Henshaw (Mansfield, Nottinghamshire), Josef Craig (R) (Tyne and Wear), Emma Hollis (Epping, Essex), Graham Edmunds (R) (Swansea), Elizabeth Johnson (Bath), Sean Fraser (R) (Manchester), Natalie Jones (Chorley, Lancashire), James Hollis (R) (Epping, Essex), Nyree Kindred (Hereford), Sam Hynd (Swansea), Harriet Lee (Peterborough), James O’Shea (Newcastle), Amy Marren (R) (Hornchurch, Essex), Daniel Pepper (Stockport), Natalie Massey (Stockport), Benjamin Procter (Newquay), Stephanie Millward (Swansea), Craig Rodgie (Dunfermline), Lauren Steadman (R) (Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire), Anthony Stephens (Highbridge, Somerset), Louise Watkin (Leigh, Lancashire), Matthew Whorwood (Newquay, Cornwall), and Thomas Young (Manchester).

In addition, British Swimming have nominated a further two athletes for selection and they have also been confirmed. As a result, the BPA can announce that Morgyn Peters and James Clegg, brother of Paralympic athlete, Libby Clegg, will also compete for ParalympicsGB in London.

“The competition in Paralympic swimming is increasing with every Games, but this team is one of the strongest we have ever fielded and it has genuine strength in depth across all 44 athletes."Craig Hunter

Amongst the athletes confirmed today are swimming stalwart Jim ‘the Swim’ Anderson who will be 49 and for whom London will be his sixth Games and the Hollis siblings. Sam Hynd also formally joins his brother Oliver, who was received a confirmed place in April.

ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission Craig Hunter said: “Today’s announcement just confirms that ParalympicsGB will have one of the strongest swimming teams in the world at London 2012.

“The competition in Paralympic swimming is increasing with every Games, but this team is one of the strongest we have ever fielded and it has genuine strength in depth across all 44 athletes. I have every confidence in the people we have selected and I am excited to see how all these outstanding swimmers perform in just under 100 day’s time.”

National Performance Director John Atkinson said: “It is great news that nominated swimmers have today been confirmed as competing for ParalympicsGB at this summer’s Paralympic Games. Although we were confident that we would get the slots, it is so exciting that they can now celebrate. That we can also include an additional two athletes who show really strong potential is the icing on the cake.”

Sixteen swimmers were selected in April 2012, based on slots earned at the IPC World Swimming Championships. These were: James Crisp (Sheffield), Jessica Applegate (Great Yarmouth), Jonathan Fox (Cornwall), Claire Cashmore (Leeds), Oliver Hynd (Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire), Chloe Davies (Midsomer Norton, Somerset), Sascha Kindred (Hereford), Heather Frederiksen (Leigh, Lancashire), Aaron Moores (Trowbridge, Wiltshire), Rhiannon Henry (Manchester), Andrew Mullen (Glasgow), Susannah Rodgers (London), Matthew Walker (Stockport), Hannah Russell (Chertsey, Surrey), Robert Welbourn (Swansea), and Eleanor Simmonds (Swansea).

Today’s announcement means the swimming team for ParalympicsGB will number 44 and the total number of athletes in ParalympicsGB reaches 175.

Athletes confirmed today:

James Anderson (Broxburn, West Lothian)	Gemma Almond (Shrewsbury)
Jack Bridge (R) (Preston)	Charlotte Henshaw (Mansfield, Nottinghamshire)
Josef Craig (R) (Tyne and Wear)	Emma Hollis (Epping, Essex)
Graham Edmunds (R) (Swansea)	Elizabeth Johnson (Bath)
Sean Fraser (R) (Manchester)	Natalie Jones (Chorley, Lancashire)
James Hollis (R) (Epping, Essex)	Nyree Kindred (Hereford)
Sam Hynd (Swansea)	Harriet Lee (Peterborough)
James O’Shea (Newcastle)	Amy Marren (R) (Hornchurch, Essex)
Daniel Pepper (Stockport)	Natalie Massey (Stockport)
Benjamin Procter (Newquay)	Stephanie Millward (Swansea)
Craig Rodgie (Dunfermline)	Lauren Steadman (R) (Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire)
Anthony Stephens (Highbridge, Somerset)	Louise Watkin (Leigh, Lancashire)
Matthew Whorwood (Newquay, Cornwall)
Thomas Young (Manchester)
Morgyn Peters
James Clegg

(R) denotes relay squad nomination

For full biographies please click here.