ParalympicsGB today confirmed the selection of thirty-six swimmers 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 selected for her first Games, while 45-year-old Jim Anderson will be 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 selected for the Beijing Games with the goal of defending their titles and adding to their personal medal hauls. (For a full list of selected 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 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 confirm a squad of 36 athletes who we hope will continue this success in Beijing.

“The number of emerging youngsters selected 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 selected 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.

“I’m 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 selected for my fourth Paralympic Games. I think the experience I have gained from the previous Games will help this year. My first Games in Atlanta 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.

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.

For further information about ParalympicsGB, please contact Sian Davies in the Press Office on 0207 211 5240 or 07721 892686 or by email at sian.davies@paralympics.org.uk. For news updates visit the BPA website at www.paralympics.org.uk

N.B ParalympicsGB is the trading name of the British Paralympic Association.

For further information about the British Swimming team please contact Gemma Field in the press office on 01509 632 262 or 07917 726 431 or on email at gemma.field@swimming.org

The Swimming squad selected to ParalympicsGB comprises:

Name     Born   Lives        Place of birth
James Anderson   14/04/1963  Broxburn       St Andrews
Claire Cashmore   21/05/1988  Kidderminster/ Devon      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       Cwbran
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  Thornbury, Bristol/ Bath   Bristol
Rhiannon Henry    20/05/1987  Bridgend       Bridgend
Charlotte Henshaw   16/01/1987  Mansfield, Notts      Mansfield
Sam Hynd    03/07/1991  Kirkby-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       Walsall
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       Truro
Fran Williamson   16/06/1985  Cambridge       Sunderland