Seven Swimmers Added to Team GB for London 2012

The selections were made following performances at the British Gas ASA National Championships, which took place in Sheffield from 20-23 June.

Today's additions bring the total number of Team GB swimmers who will compete at the Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre this summer to 44.

The swimmers selected to Team GB today are:

• David Carry (British Gas ITC Stockport) 400m Freestyle, 4x200m Freestyle relay
• Antony James (Plymouth Leander) 100m Butterfly, Medley Relay
• Marco Loughran (Guildford) 200m Backstroke
• Siobhan-Marie O'Connor (British Gas ITC Bath) 100m Breaststroke
• Steph Proud (Chester-le-street) 200m Backstroke
• Grant Turner (British Gas ITC Loughborough) 4x100m Freestyle Relay
• Chris Walker-Hebborn (British Gas ITC Bath) 100m Backstroke, 200m Backstroke

David Carry, aged 30, is the oldest member of the swimming squad and will be competing at his third Olympic Games. Meanwhile Siobhan-Marie O'Connor will be the youngest swimmer at 16 years old, having missed her school prom in order to compete at the trials.

Also announced today are additional events for the following athletes who were already selected to Team GB in March following the first Olympic trials:

• Ieuan Lloyd, 200m Freestyle
• Caitlin McClatchey, 200m Freestyle, 4x100m Freestyle Relay
• Rebecca Adlington, 4x200m Freestyle Relay
• Michael Jamieson, 100m Breaststroke
• Adam Brown, 50m Freestyle

Michael Jamieson replaces Dan Sliwinski, who was originally selected in March, but was forced to withdraw from Team GB due to injury earlier this month.

Team GB Chef de Mission Andy Hunt said: “It is exciting to confirm a total of 44 very talented and ambitious swimmers to Team GB for the London 2012 Olympic Games. This once again demonstrates the remarkable strength and depth of British talent that has been developed within the sport of swimming.

“Team GB enjoys a proud tradition in Olympic swimming competition and I’m sure the class of 2012 will produce many memorable moments in the fantastic Aquatics Centre this summer.”

Michael Scott, Team GB Swimming Team Leader and British Swimming National Performance Director said: “With 44 swimmers on the team, we have seen around a 20 percent increase since Beijing. More pleasing though is the quality of the swimmers who have been selected and the progress that has been made since the March selection trials.

“I feel that we are fielding our biggest and best British Olympic swimming team and from talking to the swimmers and staff, they are relishing the opportunity to compete in front of a home crowd in 33 days time.”

David Carry said: “I’ve never been so emotional after a swim before. Just before the first trials I had a back injury which was the first time I’ve had an injury in my whole career. I managed to get through them but I didn’t quite do what I wanted to do.

I've never been so emotional after a swim before.

“Knowing that I had this one last chance to stand up and perform, it was a really special moment to win it. I knew I’d put a huge amount of effort in – more than any other season since the last Olympics. But the more that I trained, the better my body seemed to get so that was a huge encouragement for me. You always dream it will come together on the day so to qualify for Team GB was so special.”

Siobhan-Marie O'Connor said: “I’m so shocked. I found it so hard to deal with missing out in March but I had to get back in and do the hard work. At one point I never saw myself going to London but I’ve given everything in training. I’ve focused so much since then and now I’m going to the Olympic Games. It is just unbelievable.”