Swimmers set for second British Down Syndrome Swimming Championships

The British Down Syndrome Swimming Championships return to the K2 in Crawley this weekend as 135 athletes bid to be crowned the nation’s best.

Following the inaugural event last year, the two-day competition returns to West Sussex, with swimmers aged 10 and over competing across 40 events from 25m to 1,500m.

Organised by Down Syndrome Swimming Great Britain (DSS-GB), the championships present an opportunity for individuals with both Trisomy 21 and Mosaic Down Syndrome to compete in a licensed national competition.

The event is sponsored by sponsored by Powerday and Keltbray, who are both well known for championing health and wellbeing in their local communities.

It will round off a successful year for British Down Syndrome Swimming, after they won the top team award at the European Down Syndrome Championships back in September.

With hundreds of supporters set to be in attendance this weekend, it provides some of those talented athletes, and many more, with the opportunity to shine on home turf.

The championships will welcome Liz Johnson, winner of Paralympic gold in Beijing, silver in Athens and bronze in London.

Incredible competitors

She will be the event commentator and she recently explained how much she’s looking forward to an exciting weekend of action.

Liz, now managing director and co-founder at The Ability People, said: “I am pleased to be returning and it is a privilege to commentate on the championships this year.

“I am particularly looking forward to seeing the talent on display in the pool.

“As an advocate for equity in life and in sport, these championships provide a great opportunity for competitors to demonstrate their capabilities.

“We want to thank all the swimmers involved, as much as their clubs and families, for empowering these incredible competitors to reach their full potential.”

The British Down Syndrome Swimming Championships 2023 will be held on 18-19 November.

For more information, visit the DSS-GB website.