Eight Paralympic champions named on British team for World Para-Swimming Champs

England’s Paralympic champions Ollie Hynd, Bethany Firth, Ellie Robinson and Matt Wylie are among a 26-strong team named for the World Para-Swimming Championships 2017 in Mexico City.

In total, 20 English athletes have been named on the British team for the event, which takes place from 30 September – 6 October.

Hynd has won the S8 400m Free and SM8 200m IM double at the past two World Championships and is one of three English para-swimmers to have broken world records at the British Summer Championships in Sheffield last week.

“I can’t wait to get out to Mexico and get ready to compete at the top level again,” Hynd said.

“This will be my third World Championships and I will be hoping to retain my titles but the first year of the cycle always brings some unknowns so I am making sure I am as prepared for that as possible.

“A World Championships is an exciting competition and I love competing at this level. Breaking the world record in Sheffield has given me confidence and I’m really pleased to have hit that record again.”

Maisie Summers-Newton to make major championship debut

Among the newcomers to the squad is 15-year old Northampton swimmer Maisie Summers-Newton, who lowered her own European SB6 100m Breaststroke record in Sheffield last week.

“I am so excited about qualifying for the World Championships,” said Summers-Newton. “I have worked really hard this year to improve my times enough to qualify and I can’t wait to get on the blocks in Mexico.

“This will be the first time I’ll represent Great Britain at this level so I don’t really know what to expect. I want to learn as much as I can from my teammates and the amazing athletes that will be at the World Championships and use that as I continue to work hard on the path to Tokyo 2020.”

Impressive performances at British Summer Championships

British Para-Swimming Head Coach Rob Aubry added: “The team we have selected is a strong team based on their impressive performances at the British Summer Championships.

“In Sheffield we saw athletes break records and show that they were at their best at the right time. What impressed me the most in Sheffield is that they took on board the importance of the meet and showed the best possible race plan at the right time.

“Sheffield has shown us that we have a strong developing group of athletes challenging for top positions within the program. Considering that this is the first year of a cycle, I am pleased that we have seen that it is possible to continue world class performances in year one of the cycle. Athletes are focusing on the process goals and executing the race plan.”