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London 2012 Paralympics swimming medallists compete in Sheffield

Over 200 top class disabled swimming stars will take part in the Nationwide Short Course Swimming Championships on 24 and 25 November. Among the competitors will be many London 2012 Paralympic Games medallists in Sheffield. This is the first national competition since they returned home as champions.

The Championships are a longstanding competition organised by Disability Sport Events (DSE) - an English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) programme. Held at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge International Swimming Pool, this event uses a 25m pool.

As spectators can attend free of charge, everyone is welcome to congratulate the winners from the Paralympic Games in a special victory parade at 1.40pm on Saturday 24 November. The medallists will be presented on poolside before the second session.

Details are:

  • Event: Nationwide Short Course Disability Swimming Championships 2012
  • Venue: Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, Sheffield
  • Saturday 24 November Session one- 9am-midday. Victory parade of medallists 1.40pm. Session two- 2pm-5pm
  • Sunday 25 November Session three- 9am- midday
  • Photographs available. Interviews are not available during this time.

Those competing include Josef Craig (gold S7, 400m Freestyle), Oliver Hynd (gold SM8 200m IM, silver in S8 400mFreestyle and S8 bronze 100m back), Jessica-Jane Applegate (gold S14, 200m Freestyle), Eleanor Simmonds (gold SM6 200m IM and 400m Freestyle, silver in 100m Freestyle and bronze 50m Freestyle), Jonathan Fox (gold S7 Back) and Heather Frederikson (gold S8 Back, three silvers in S8 100m Freestyle , 400m Freestyle and 4x100m medley relay 34pts) 

For six times Paralympic champion James Anderson OBE, this event will be even more memorable. His career has spanned over two decades but the S2 swimmer recently announced this will be his last event in the pool. James was the oldest member of the swimming team in London and his career highlights include winning four golds in Athens 2004. The 49 year old has fond memories of Sheffield after competing in national events in the City for numerous years. He comments:

“I love coming to Sheffield- it’s where being part of a team all started for me. I like catching up with old and new friends- whether they are swimmers, coaches, support staff or volunteers. And of course- race fast as well!”

The championships provide a platform for new swimmers to showcase their talent and build on the momentum of the 2012 Games. This event provides an opportunity for these newcomers to compete along their Paralympic heroes and rivals.

DSE would like to thank long term supporter Nationwide who are supporting the events programme until March 2013. Other partners include Sheffield City Council, British Swimming, Water Direct and Copiertec.

Full results will be available to download at www.efds.co.uk/events

All media accreditation must be collected from the event desk in Ponds Forge foyer.

For further press information please contact:

Jamie Blair, Events Management jblair@efds.co.uk 07866 118934

Sarah Marl, Marketing and Communications Manager smarl@efds.co.uk 07764 291671

For more information on EFDS please visit our website: www.efds.co.uk 

Find us on Twitter @Eng_Dis_Sport, Facebook and LinkedIn

Events programme @disabilitysport

Notes to Editors:

The English Federation of Disability Sport is the national body for disabled people in sport throughout England. Key areas of expertise include:

  • Providing advice, guidance and information on sport for disabled people.
  • Actively campaigning and lobbying to raise the profile of disabled sportswomen and sportsmen and to increase the opportunities available for disabled people to participate in sport and physical activity at all levels.
  • Influencing and supporting partners across the delivery system of sport to be more inclusive and to provide a greater range and quality of sporting opportunities for disabled people.
  • Attracting additional funds to sport for disabled people.
  • Working with partners to empower disabled people to take a more active role in all aspects of sport and physical activity. They include schools, colleges and universities as well as local county sports partnerships, National Governing Bodies for sport, local authorities, the voluntary sector and National Disability Sports Organisations.
  • Developing and rolling-out national programmes to improve access to sport and physical activity by disabled people, such as Playground to Podium and Inclusive Fitness Initiative.
  • Providing a range of inclusive, high quality training and coaching opportunities to increase the number of disabled people involved in sport and physical activity.
  • Providing a comprehensive competition calendar through Disability Sport Events to increase the number of disabled people participating at all levels of the player pathway, and support the identification and development of talented performers.
  • EFDS receives funding from Sport England as its national partner for disabled people in sport.