Disability Sport Wales
Chwaraeon Anabledd Cymru

SWANSEA JACK GETS READY FOR GB SWIM ACTION

13 year old Jack Thomas from Morriston, Swansea is busily preparing to compete for a GB Swim Team, as the Olympic squad make their mark in Beijing. Thomas will be part of the GB Learning Disability Swim Squad who will fly out to Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski in Poland for the INAS-FID European Swimming Championships from August 17th until the 21st.

Thomas, only 12 years old when selected for the team, will be the youngest ever GB representative at a major Learning Disability International event and is looking forward to his events namely 400fr 400IM 200bk and 50bk.

The squad of 8 swimmers, will include experienced swimmers such as World Record Holders and World Champions Dan Pepper and Ben Proctor, as well as new younger swimmers like Craig Rodgie from Scotland and our very own Jack Thomas.

Thomas, member of Swansea Valley Swimming Club and Swansea Stingrays Disability Swimming Club, said: ‘I am a bit nervous about competing at my first major event but I will do my best and try to make the finals’.

It will be a real family affair as joining Jack on the squad will be his Mother and Father. Mum Wendy will be Team Manager, whilst his Dad, Mark will be Head Coach. Joining the pair on the Staff List will be Mark Watson, Coach of Pembrokeshire Puffins.

Head Coach Mark Thomas said: ‘With only a small team going this year the fight to retain the european title will be tough. I am quietly confident that it can be done. They are all quality elite swimmers and should relish the challenge of fighting to become the European Champions for 2008’

Team Manager Wendy Thomas said: ‘‘I find myself in a rather unique position at this years’ INAS-FID European Swimming Championships; I am the GB Team Manager and also Mum to the youngest team member. The GB Team are a small but outstanding group of athletes and as team manager I am very excited at the possibility of being the European Champions for 2008.
As Mum to the only Welsh swimmer attending and the youngest ever GB swimmer at an INAS-FID International event I am very proud of my son’s huge accomplishment at such a young age.
I am looking forward to a very successful Championship and to being part of such a fantastic team.’

The team was selected and organised through the UKSAPLD (UK Sports Association for People with a Learning Disability) and swimmers selected had to reach very tough selection standards. UKSAPLD Director and FDSW Academy Manager Gerwyn Owen said: ‘Jack has been training hard over the last few years to establish himself as a performance swimmer. His selection to this event, at his age, shows he has great potential to be a future World Champion. His goal is to be competing at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. At the moment Learning Disabled Athletes are banned from competing, but UKSAPLD are working with all parties to see them reinstated’.

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