Double Paralympic swimming champion Eleanor Simmonds confirmed today she will compete for Great Britain at the BT Paralympic World Cup in Manchester in May.
Simmonds’ announcement comes off the back of a strong performance last week at the European trials.
She will return to defend her BT Paralympic World Cup title in the 200m Individual Medley.
The 16-year-old from Walsall said: “The BT Paralympic World Cup is a key competition for me and will help my preparations for London 2012 where I hope to defend my titles.
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“I always enjoy the competition in Manchester, I like the pool and the fans always cheer us on.
“It’s also an opportunity to compete against the best swimmers in the world which will really help me ahead of the European Championships later this year.”
Fellow Paralympic gold medalists Sascha Kindred, Matthew Walker, Liz Johnson, and David Roberts join Simmonds as the home nation take on swimmers representing Europe, the Americas and the Rest of The World for the trophy.
“It’s a great opportunity to race a high quality international field and it will be good to get a feel of the home crowd only a year before London 2012,” he added.
The swimmers will compete in six category classes, with Channel 4 broadcasting live from the Aquatics Centre from the 27-28 May.
The event will be a key performance indicator for the British swimmers ahead of the IPC European Championships being held in Berlin in August.
John Atkinson, National Performance Director for British Swimming, said: “The BT Paralympic World Cup is always a fantastic event that attracts world-class talent and outstanding performances and once again we are pleased to be involved.
“The team performed to a high standard at the recent trials and are now prepared to compete against the best in the world in their home country.
“The event will be invaluable in their preparations for the European Championships this summer as well as 2012 and I know that our athletes are looking forward to the challenge.”
The BT Paralympic World Cup is the largest annual international multi-sport competition in elite disability sport. BT is entering its third year as title sponsor, in a sponsorship, which runs up to and includes the 2012 BT Paralympic World Cup.
The 2011 BT Paralympic World Cup will receive unprecedented television coverage, with Channel 4 committing to a two hour live programme on 28 May, as well daily highlights packages on 26 and 27 May.
Live daily streaming from each sport will also be broadcast on the Channel 4 website: www.channel4.com/paralympics.
For tickets or more information on the BT Paralympic World Cup visit: www.btparalympicworldcup.com
The confirmed GB team, events and hometown are:
Sascha Kindred SM6 200m Individual Medley Hereford
Matthew Whorwood SM6 200m Individual Medley Newquay
David Roberts S7 50m Freestyle Cardiff
Matthew Walker S7 50m Freestyle Stockport
Jonathan Fox S7 50m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke St Austell
Sam Hynd S8 400m Freestyle Swansea
Sean Fraser S8 400m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke Manchester
Thomas Young S8 400m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke Carnforth
Daniel Pepper S14 200m Freestyle Stockport
Ben Procter S14 200m Freestyle Newquay
Eleanor Simmonds SM6 200m Individual Medley Walsall
Natalie Jones SM6 200m Individual Medley Chorley
Heather Frederiksen S8 50m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke Warrington
Emma Hollis S8 50m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke Loughborough
Louise Watkin SB9 100m Breaststroke, 100m Backstroke Warrington
Harriet Lee SB9 100m Breaststroke Swansea
Claire Cashmore S9 50m Freestyle, 100m Butterfly Kidderminster
Stephanie Millward S9 50m Freestyle, 100m Butterfly Swansea
Charlotte Henshaw SB6 100m Breaststroke Mansfield
Liz Johnson SB6 100m Breaststroke Newport/Bath
Olivia Townley, Sportsister
The Women’s Sport Magazine
