Welsh pair part of Great Britain squad crowned World top team again at the World Down Syndrome Swimming Championships 2024. Williams wins World medley relay bronze.
Great Britain retained their top team title at the 11th World Down Syndrome Swimming Championships held in Antalya, Turkiye 19-26 March 2024
Down Syndrome Swimming Great Britain took a team of 29 swimmers (15 male and 14 female swimmers) to Antalya including two swimmers from Wales, Dylan Hughes (Newport S&WPC) and Dylan Williams (Torfaen Dolphins). There were 25 countries taking part with a total of 95 male swimmers (including 5 Mosaic DS swimmers) and 72 female swimmers (including 10 Mosaic DS swimmers).
This was the first event to take place at the very recently constructed 50m swimming pool at the Akdeniz University.
The GB team had prepared well in the build-up to the Championships and responded brilliantly to the pressure on the biggest stage to repeat their 2022 Best Team ranking. Thanks to the superb efforts of everyone involved they came home with an impressive haul of 31 medals, numerous World and European records and the Best Team 2024 trophy.
They won 15 gold, 7 silver and 9 bronze medals and attained 1,146 points to go clear of Portugal (662 points), Mexico (655 points), Italy (647) and France (546) in the overall points table.
The British relay teams also had fantastic success, winning 3 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze medal, breaking 2 World Records and a European Record.
Following the team’s success, head coach Neil Lacey said: “The competition in Turkey has been a tough five days with the standards in the pool at the highest level ever. The Great Britain team has risen to the challenge and produced some outstanding performances with several World Champions and new World Records set across many events.
Special mention should go to Ellen Stephenson, top female Mosaic DS swimmer (Richmond Dales ASC) for 6 World records from 8 events, Team Captain Mark Evens (Hitchin SC) for being the ‘most valuable male T21 swimmer’ and the GB relay teams who won medals in five of the eight relays and set 2 new World Records and a European Record in the process.
The two swimmers from Wales within the DSS-GB squad each qualified for the maximum 8 events and so had a busy week in Antalya. Both continue to improve as they gain more international experience. Dylan Hughes was unfortunately struck down by illness in the middle of the week but still performed well in difficult circumstances. Dylan Williams was selected for the men’s 4 x 100m medley team who earned a World bronze medal. We look forward to a bright future for both as they continue to improve and a huge thanks go to their home clubs for the work they have done with them. A very proud time to be a GB team member.”
Click here to see all the results from the World Down Syndrome Swimming Championships 2024 https://sonuc.antalyayuzmetemsilciligi.com.tr/
Down Syndrome Swimming GB squad for the World Down Syndrome Swimming Championships 2024 included:
Dylan Hughes, City of Newport S&WPC/Oswestry Otters (top placing 15th 50m backstroke)
Dylan Williams, Torfaen Dolphins SC/Oswestry Otters (World bronze medal 4 x 100m medley relay (backstroke). Top placing 10th 50m freestyle)
British Down Syndrome Swimming Championships 2024
The team are now preparing for this year’s British Down Syndrome Swimming Championships.
The event returns to K2, Crawley on 16-17 November 2024. Entries for the competition will close on 26 October. Information about the event, including how to enter can be found on the DSS-GB website https://www.dss-gb.org/sign-up/
We are always keen to identify new talent and the Championships are a key event to spot up and coming swimmers.
All strokes and distances. 25m races for novices.
