News

Warrender's Sean Fraser has been selected to compete for Great Britain at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing.  Sean, 18, swims in the S8 category of disability sport and will contest the 100m Backstroke at what promises to be the most competitive Paralympics ever.  He will also be considered for relay selection.  It marks the first full senior GB call-up for Sean and he was clearly delighted with news of his selection, "I am so delighted to make the squad for Beijing," said Fraser, "I have been working towards this all season and I will now obviously be targeting a podium finish at the Games.  I had good results at the two selection meets, achieving the qualifying time in the 100m backstroke although the final decision was always in the hands of the selectors."

At the first selection meet at the start of April, Sean was classified in the S9 category but the international body that oversees disability sport re-classified Sean as S8 just prior to the start of the British International Disability Championships last week.  This meant some of the necessary qualifying times became easier to achieve, but that all Sean's swims at the Trials in Sheffield a few weeks ago no longer counted towards qualification.  Fortunately, Sean was able to swim fast enough again to earn his ticket to China.  Sean is coached by Laurel Bailey in Warrender's Junior National squad and Coach Bailey was equally delighted with the news of his call-up, "I am really pleased for Sean," noted Bailey, "he has worked very hard in training for this over the past few months, making significant improvements in all of his events.  He is still relatively new to international disability swimming so it will be fantastic to gain great experience this year which will hopefully help him in years to come, especially in the run up to London 2012."