Ellie Simmonds amongst GB Swimmers to compete at BT Paralympic World Cup
Double Paralympic swimming champion Eleanor Simmonds is one of the leading swimmers confirmed today for the GB team taking on competitors from around the world at the BT Paralympic World Cup in Manchester in May.
Simmonds is joined by fellow Paralympic gold medallists including Sascha Kindred, Matthew Walker, Liz Johnson and David Roberts as the home nation take on swimmers representing Europe, the Americas and the Rest of The World for the BT Paralympic World Cup trophy.
The event at the Manchester Aquatics Centre on 28 May will be a key performance indicator for the British swimmers ahead of the IPC European Championships being held in Berlin in August.
Simmonds' confirmation on the GB team comes off the back on a strong performance last week at the European trials and says she is looking forward to the event in May where she will be looking 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. 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."
Six-time Paralympic champion Sascha Kindred, who broke the European record in the S56 50m Butterfly at last week's trials, will be defending his 200m Individual Medley title in May and said, "I've always enjoyed swimming in Manchester for the BT Paralympic World Cup and have just broken a European record in that specific pool. 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 on Saturday 28 May. 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 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
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.
