Double Paralympic gold medallist Eleanor Simmonds and eleven-time Paralympic gold medallist David Roberts are two headline stars to have confirmed their attendance at the first international meet since the Paralympics last year.
An impressive 16 British Paralympic swimmers, who between them brought home 29 medals from Beijing, have today confirmed they will compete in next month’s BT Paralympic World Cup in Manchester.
Competing in Manchester along with Eleanor Simmonds (Walsall) and David Roberts (Pontypridd) will be Heather Frederiksen (Wigan), Natalie Jones (Colchester), Charlotte Henshaw (Mansfield), Rachel Latham (Wigan), Louise Watkin (Surrey), Stephanie Millward (Chippenham), Rhiannon Henry (Bridgend), James Anderson (St Andrews), Matthew Whorwood (Newquay), Matthew Walker (Stockport), Jonathan Fox (Cornwall), Sam Hynd (Mansfield), Sean Fraser (Edinburgh) and Robert Welbourn (Chesterfield).
Both Simmonds and Frederiksen have since broken world records in the S6 and S8 400m freestyle respectively at the British Gas Swimming Championships in March and Swansea-based Simmonds can’t wait for another chance to compete internationally next month.
The 14-year-old, who will be competing in the S6 100m freestyle said, “I’m really looking forward to competing at the BT Paralympic World Cup next month. I’ve done some cool things since Beijing but I’ve been training hard recently and it’ll be great to compete against some of the international girls again.
“I was amazed at the world record time I got at the National Championships and I’m really pleased, I’m in good shape and excited about having the opportunity to compete at such a high profile event in front of a home crowd.”
The BT Paralympic World Cup is the first major multi-sport elite disability event to be staged since the Beijing Paralympic Games and major international stars and a strong British contingent are expected.
The competition will be staged in Manchester from 20-25 May, with over 400 competitors from over 31 countries scheduled to compete.
Louise Hudson, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
