Athens 2004 Review

By Rhys Roberts - March 1 2005
Athens 2004 Review
Dragons D.S.C. Assistant Coach David Roberts represented Britain at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games. Also swimming for Britain were 4 other swimmers who started off at the Dragons Disabled Swimming Squad.

Athens Paralympic Games 2004

Between September 17th-28th the eyes of the world were again focused on the Paralympic Games, the premier sporting competition for athletes with a disability. The Games were held in Athens, Greece, the birth place of the Olympic movement.

The most recognisable symbol of Athens - The Acropolis.

Five of the swimmers representing Great Britain at the Games started off at the Dragons Disabled Swimming Club, these were Dragons D.S.C. Assistant Coach David Roberts MBE, Gareth Duke, Rhiannon Henry, Elizabeth Johnson and Nyree Lewis.

 

David Roberts MBE, Gareth Duke, Rhiannon Henry, Liz Johnson and Nyree Lewis.

 

The Paralympic Games got underway on September 17th 2004 with the Opening Ceremony taking place at the Olympic Stadium. The ceremony gave Greece an opportunity to celebrate its historical and cultural past and present, and allowed the 4,000 plus athletes of more than 140 countries their chance to walk out onto the big stage in front of the world.

 

The teams begin to enter the arena at the Opening Ceremony, Setember 17th, 2004.

 

 

The Paralympic Flame being lit at the Opening Ceremnony, September 17th, 2004. 

 

The Games lasted for 12 days and was a successful one for the Great Britain Team finishing 2nd in the final medal table with 35 Golds, 30 Silvers and 29 Bronze medals. It was also a successful Games for the contingent of swimmers who started off at the Dragons Disabled Swimming Club, bringing home a combined total of 15 medals; 7 Golds, 4 Silvers and 4 Bronze.

 

 

The Athens 2004 Paralympic Games Swimming Pool.

 

The Medal tally of the Welsh contingent of the Great Britain Paralympic Swimming Squad:

Swimmer

Gold

Silver

Bronze

David Roberts

4

1

0

Nyree Lewis

2

2

1

Gareth Duke

1

0

1

Liz Johnson

0

1

0

Rhiannon Henry

0

0

2

 

The Paralympic Games came to a subdued end on September 29th 2004. The Closing Ceremony was restricted to the formal closing of the games and handing over to the organizers of Beijing 2008 after a tragic road accident which claimed the lives of seven Greek students who were traveling to watch the Games. Despite the tragic way that the Games closed, there was no doubt that this had been one of the most succesful Paralympic Games ever hosted.

 

The Paralympic Flame continues to burn on the eve of the Closing ceremony, September 28th, 2004.

 

Click here to go to the results of the Welsh swimmers who were competing for Great Britain at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games