http://www.paralympics.org.uk/show_news.asp?itemid=2149&itemTitle=ParalympicsGB+receive+swimming+squad+nominations+for+Beijing+Games&section=000100010006&sectionTitle=News

ParalympicsGB today received nominations for thirty-six swimmers from British Swimming for the British team for the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. The squad features a mix of youth and experience, with 13-year-old Eleanor Simmonds, nominated for her first Games, while 45-year-old Jim Anderson will be potentially travelling to his fifth Games.

Simmonds, who is the youngest member of the squad, is joined by other Paralympic debutants, including 14-year-old Elizabeth Simpkin, 19-year-old Kate Grey (Bristol/ Bath), 18-year-old Rachael Latham (Wigan) and 15-year-old Louise Watkin.

Paralympic champions Dave Roberts (Cardiff), Sascha Kindred (Hereford), Nyree Lewis (Hereford), Natalie Jones (Manchester) and Gareth Duke (Cwmbran) have also been nominated to travel to the Beijing Games with the goal of defending their titles and adding to their personal medal hauls. (For a full list of nominated athletes please see below).

British Swimming National Performance Director Tim Reddish said: “The team has a good mix of youth and experience, with 45 per cent of the team potentially attending their first Paralympic Games. This is really pleasing because it will prove to be beneficial for all of our athletes, coaches and support staff,” Reddish said. “The average age of this squad is younger than the one that competed in Athens and this demonstrates that the systems and programmes that British Swimming have in place are working well.

“It’s pleasing to see that a number of records have fallen during the past two competitions. The priority is to break British records because this shows that as a nation we are improving but to see European and world records tumbling is a good indicator of where we are on the world stage.

“Our athletes and their coaches now need to focus upon their preparations for Beijing to continue improving and if they succeed in this I can see them being able to get in the hunt for medals at the Beijing Paralympic Games.”

ParalympicsGB Chief Executive Phil Lane, said: “Swimming has traditionally been one of the most successful Paralympic sports in terms of medals at previous Games.  We are delighted to receive nominations for a squad of 36 athletes who we hope will continue this success in Beijing.

“The number of emerging youngsters that have been nominated for their first Paralympic Games is testament to how successfully British Swimming nurture and develop new talent but its also exciting to see so many established Paralympians returning to the ParalympicsGB squad to defend the titles won in Athens.”

World championship medallist Louise Watkin said: “I am overjoyed to have been nominated for my first Paralympic Games. It really has made all of the hard-work worthwhile. It looks like it will be a really exciting event.

“If I am selected I will be looking forward to the challenge of competing at the Paralympics, I know it will be like nothing I have ever been to before but I think I will be able to stay focused and do the best that I can.”

Paralympic champion Sascha Kindred said: “I am very excited to be nominated for my fourth Paralympic Games. I think the experience I have gained from the previous Games will help this year. My first Games in Athens was a real shock and I didn’t know how to prepare myself for competition but now I know how to stay focused on the task in hand.

“The team has a great mix of young athletes and more experienced ones, I am looking forward to being able to pass on my knowledge and experience to the younger athletes and I think that will really benefit them. The great thing about the British Swimming team is that we have a really good team atmosphere and we all support each other.”

The Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games opens on September 6 and closes on September 17. The swimming events at the Games take place at the National Aquatics Centre, also known as the Water Cube, from September 7 to 15.

Many of these swimmers will be in action next week at the Paralympic World Cup in Manchester, which should provide the British swimmers with the perfect preparation ahead of China.

At the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, Britain finished second in the medal table with a total of 35 golds, 30 silver and 29 bronze medals. With competitive standards continually rising and the dominant Chinese team taking the home advantage ParalympicsGB recognises that the 2008 Paralympics will be one of its biggest challenges yet.

The Swimming squad nominated to ParalympicsGB comprises:

Name                        Born                         Lives                      Place of birth
James Anderson        14/04/1963                Broxburn                St Andrews
Claire Cashmore         21/05/1988               Kidderminster         Kidderminster
Emma Cattle              10/04/1988               Harlington, Beds     Luton
Jenny Coughlin           09/11/1983               Swansea                St Helens
James Crisp               11/10/1982               Nottingham             Nottingham
Gareth Duke               18/06/1986               Cwmbran                Cwmbran
Graham Edmunds       22/10/1982               Swansea                Reading
David Ellis                  12/07/1986               Heanor, Derbyshire  Nottingham
Jonathan Fox              30/05/1991              St Austell, Corwall    Plymouth
Sean Fraser               30/04/1990               Loanhead, Midlothian Edinburgh
Heather Frederiksen    30/12/1985               Leigh, Lancashire     Billinge
Kate Grey                  25/01/1989               Bristol/ Bath             Bristol
Rhiannon Henry          20/05/1987               Bridgend                  Bridgend
Charlotte Henshaw      03/07/1991               Kirkby-in-Ashfield,    Sutton-in-Ashfield

Sam Hynd                   03/07/1991              Kirby-in-Ashfield       Sutton-in-Ashfield
Elizabeth Johnson       03/12/1985               Swansea                 Newport
Natalie Jones              31/10/1984               Manchester             Colchester
Sascha Kindred          13/12/1977                Hereford                 Munster, Ger
Dervis Konuralp          27/09/1980                 Hackney, London    London
Rachael Latham         13/08/1989                 Wigan                    Billinge
Nyree Lewis               21/09/1980                 Hereford                 Rhonda Valley
Andrew Lindsay         25/10/1979                 Cowdenbeath          Dumfermline
Mhairi Love                05/05/1981                 Larkhill, Lanarkshire Lanarkshire
Simon Miller              10/06/1986                  Manchester            Shoreham 
Stephanie Millward     20/09/1981                  Chippenham, Wilts  Saudi Arabia
David Roberts            11/05/1980                  Cardiff                    Pontypridd   
Eleanor Simmonds     11/11/1994                 Swansea                Glossop
Elizabeth Simpkin       11/08/1994                Southport, Lancs     Southport 
Lauren Steadman        18/12/1992                Huntingdon, Cambs Peterborough
Anthony Stephens       09/07/1986                Swansea                Reading
Matthew Walker          25/04/1978                Stockport                Stockport
Louise Watkin             13/08/1992                Redhill, Surrey        Stockholm
Danielle Watts            13/10/1980                Denton, Oxon          Oxford
Robert Welbourn         11/06/1987                Swansea                 Chesterfield
Matthew Whorwood     07/12/1989                Newquay, Cornwall   Truro
Fran Williamson          16/06/1985                Cambridge               Sunderland