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10 Apr 2012

London 2012 Paralympic swimmers selected

Sixteen Paralympic swimmers are chosen to represent Britain at the London 2012 games, including Ellie Simmonds, one of the stars of Beijing.

Swimming is traditionally one of Britain’s most successful sports at the Paralympics. In 2008 Team GB won 11 golds, finishing fourth overall in the swimming medal table.

Sixteen athletes have been confirmed for London 2012, while another 26 will have to wait until June when the International Paralympic Committee confirms the final number of slots available.

Among the squad members is Ellie Simmonds – the schoolgirl who became a household name after winning two golds in Beijing

She said: “I have worked really hard for the past four years to qualify and I couldn’t be happier now I have done that. The London games are a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Ellie Simmonds of Swansea Performance Centre prepares to compete in the Women's MC 50m Freestyle in London

“Beijing was really special for me but I think walking out in front of 17,000 people and hearing them cheer us on will be even better. Competing in front of a home crowd last month was amazing and I can’t wait to do it again.”

Husband and wife team

Also preparing for the London 2012 Paralympics are husband and wife Sascha and Nyree Kindred who have a one-year-old daughter, Ella.

London will be Sascha’s fifth Paralympic Games: “Competing in the (Olympic) pool in March gave me a taste of how amazing the home crowd will be and I can’t wait to see the seats full of people supporting the British team and cheering us on.”

Read more: How many Paralympic athletes can you name?

His wife Nyree, a three time Paralympian, will have to wait until June before formal confirmation of her selection.

They are not the only pair keeping it in the family. Siblings Oliver and Sam Hynd, and James and Emma Hollis also all hope to be competing in the summer.

One of the youngest members of the team is 15-year-old Hannah Russell: “I wasn’t really expecting to be on the team for London because I am part of the Diamond Programme which is aimed for Rio, but to be able to compete this year is a dream come true.

“To compete alongside such a wide range of really talented athletes will be such a good experience.”

The 16 swimmers who have had their selection confirmed are: James Crisp (Sheffield); Jessica Applegate (Great Yarmouth); Jonathan Fox (Cornwall); Claire Cashmore (Leeds); Oliver Hynd (Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire); Chloe Davies (Midsomer Norton, Somerset); Sascha Kindred (Hereford); Heather Frederiksen (Leigh, Lancashire); Aaron Moore (Trowbridge, Wiltshire); Rhiannon Henry (Manchester); Andrew Mullen (Glasgow); Susannah Rodgers (London); Matthew Walker (Stockport); Hannah Russell (Chertsey, Surrey); Robert Welbourn (Swansea); Eleanor Simmonds (Swansea).

More on the Paralympics

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