Paralympic Games swimming stars head for Sheffield

Most of Britain’s swimming medallists from the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games will be in action at the Disability Sport England Open Swimming Championships this weekend.

The impressive entry list for the championships, the biggest international disability swimming event held in this country, includes David Roberts, winner of four golds and a silver medal in Athens, and Jim Anderson, a quadruple gold medallist at last year’s Paralympic Games.

The line-up also includes British Athens double gold medallist Nyree Lewis, Sascha Kindred, as well as medallists Sarah Bailey, Elaine Barrett, James Crisp, Gareth Duke, Andrew Lindsay, Danielle Watts and Matthew Walker.

More than 400 swimmers will be in action at the championships in Sheffield, including 50 medallists from the Athens Paralympic Games.

The line-up also includes Brazil’s Clodoaldo Silva, who won six golds and a silver in Athens, Canada’s Benoit Huot, who won five golds and a silver and Spain’s triple gold medallist Sebastian Rodriguez.

The DSE Open Swimming Championships take place at the Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield, beginning on Friday (6th May) and running until Sunday (8th May).

Spectators are welcome free of charge. The times of swimming sessions are as follows: Friday – 4pm to 7pm; Saturday 9am to midday and 3pm to 6pm; Sunday 9am to midday and 3pm to 6pm.

Britain’s swimmers had an outstanding Paralympic Games in Athens, finishing second to China in the swimming medals table with 16 golds, 20 silvers and 16 bronzes.

Great Britain had another outstandingly successful summer Games at Athens 2004, finishing second in the overall medals table behind China and winning 94 medals – 35 golds, 30 silvers and 29 bronzes.

The British Paralympic Association is sponsored by easynet and Visa, and is also supported by lottery funding through UK Sport.

Media enquiries about the DSE Open Swimming Championships can be directed to Sarah Marl on 07739 518693.

For further information about the British Paralympic Association contact: The British Paralympic Association's Press Office at Matchtight Ltd on (01225) 383518 or by email at comms@matchtight.co.uk, or see the BPA website at www.paralympics.org.uk