Britain’s Top Paralympic Swimmers
Great Britain boasts one of the strongest disability swimming teams in the world, having finished in the top four of the swimming medal table at the past six consecutive Paralympic Games.
Even if you are new to disability swimming there is a good chance you have heard of Ellie Simmonds, who won double gold as a 13-year old at the 2008 Paralympic Games. Well Ellie isn't our only star.
Get to know some of our best athletes from the different classifications below.
- If you are looking for our full Olympic and Paralympic teams go to our Aquatics 2012 zone
- To find out more about disability swimming and classifications, head to our competitive swimming page.
Ellie Simmonds
Ellie Simmonds
Achondroplasia (Dwarfism)
S6, SB6, SM6
11.11.1994
Walsall
- Winning two golds as a 13-year old at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing.
- She then won four golds at the 2010 IPC World Championships and set the first world record in London Aquatics Centre at the British Gas Swimming Championships 2012.
Ellie is studying for A-levels in world development, history and citizenship.
Sascha Kindred
Sascha Kindred
Cerebral Palsy
S6, SB7, SM6
13.12.1977
Oldham
- Being one of the most consistent Paralympic swimmers of the past decade, having won two golds at each of the past three Paralympic Games as well as a couple of bronzes and a silver to boot.
- His IPC World Championship record is no less impressive, having won at least one medal at each of the last five Championships and taken six golds over the past three.
Sascha is married to fellow British Paralympic swimmer Nyree (nee Lewis) and their first child Ella was born in July 2011.
Louise Watkin
Louise Watkin
Amputee
S9, SB9, SM9
13.08.1992
Redhill
- Bursting into international recognition as a 16-year old at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing where she won three bronzes and a silver.
- She won her first IPC World title in 2010, soaring to victory in the S9 50m Freestyle.
Louise was born in Stockholm but moved to Surrey as a four-year old and now lives and trains in Manchester.
Hannah Russell
Hannah Russell
Visual Impairment
S12, SB12, SM12
05.08.1996
Chertsey
- Winning silver and bronze on her major championship debut at 2011's IPC European Championships.
- She continued to improve in 2012, breaking two world short course records before qualifying for her first Paralympic Games at London 2012.
Hannah has Scottish grandparents and has been learning to play the bagpipes at school.
Dan Pepper
Dan Pepper
Intellectual Impairment
S14, SB14, SM14
02.03.1989
Stockport
- Being one of the most consistent British performers in the S14 classification, having won his first British title in 2004.
- He won double gold at the 2010 IPC World Championships and has won four golds over the past two IPC European Championships.
Dan's most famous relative is his aunt, British actress Anne Reid who played Val Barlow in Coroniation Street.
