Disability Sport Wales
Chwaraeon Anabledd Cymru
The Federation of Disability Sport Wales (FDSW) is a pan-disability National Governing Body of Sport Which aims to promote and develop quality sports opportunities
SWIMMERS HEAD BACK TO SHEFFIELD
Disability Sport Events (DSE) is holding the British International Disability Swimming Championships at Ponds Forge in Sheffield from 15-17 May.
Last year the same event was the final qualifier for the Beijing Paralympics. This year, we welcome back all the British Paralympic medallists and the championships also incorporate the selection trials for the British Gas squad that will compete at the IPC European Championships in Reykjavik later this year.
Top Welsh swimmers in action during the event include eleven times Paralympic gold medallist David Roberts CBE, Beijing Gold Winner Liz Johnson (pictured), along with Swansea based double gold medallist and youngest ever MBE- Eleanor Simmonds, multi-gold winning Sascha Kindred OBE and rising star- gold medallist Heather Frederiksen.
Heather had been successful at previous DSE championships, but when she won gold in Beijing all her dreams came true. The 24 year old who swims for Salford competed in five events at the Paralympics and returned home with four medals. Her first medal- a silver in the women’s S8 100m freestyle was followed two days later by gold in the women’s S8 100m backstroke in a new world record time. She also won a bronze medal in the 200m individual medley and silver in the 400m freestyle. In her final event, the 50m freestyle, she also reached the final finishing in 7th position.
Frederiksen comments about the weekend ahead:
“These championships fit into my training schedule quite well this year. It is a lead up to the Paralympic World Cup next week and the German Open Championships the week after. It will give me an idea of how my training is going with a view to the European Championships and World Short Course Championships later this year if I am lucky enough to be selected.”
Former Sports Minister Richard Caborn MP will be in attendance for the Friday finals. Spectators are welcome to attend free of charge. Further information about DSE and the winners from this event will be available via www.disabilitysport.org.uk
ENDS
Media information:
Sarah Marl, Disability Sport Events, sarah@dse.org.uk , 0161 953 2438
Gemma Field, British Swimming, gemma.field@swimming.org, 07917 726431
Commenting is closed for this article.
