PLYMOUTH Leander swimmer Reece Dunn will make his Paralympic Games debut this year after being named in the Team GB squad.
Dunn is one of 23 Great Britain swimmers – 12 debutants – selected for the delayed 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo, which will be held between August 24 and September 5.
He will head to Japan as one of the athletes to beat in the S14 class.
On his debut at the World Para-Swimming Championships in 2019, Dunn won three individual titles and also holds four world records.
Great Britain will have a strong para-swimming team in Japan. It includes Bethany Firth, Stephanie Millward, Eleanor Robinson, Hannah Russell and Ellie Simmonds, who all won gold at Rio 2016, where Britain’s swimmers won an incredible 47 medals in the pool. They are joined by five further medallists from the last Games; Jessica-Jane Applegate, Thomas Hamer, Andrew Mullen, Scott Quin and Becky Redfern. In total, this group of 10 athletes has won 41 Paralympic Games medals between them, with Simmonds and Millward set to make a fourth consecutive Paralympics appearance in Tokyo.
British para-swimming performance director Chris Furber said: “The last 18 months have been challenging for everyone in the country but thanks to the elite sport exemption we have been able to maintain some consistency in our preparation for Tokyo.
“I’m delighted to be able to get to the point of ParalympicsGB announcing these 23 swimmers who will compete in Tokyo in 55 days’ time.
“The team is a terrific blend of knowledge and experience with 11 swimmers having competed before at a Paralympic Games and 12 making their Paralympic debut.
“Injury and classification challenges have hit the team hard this season but we are determined to go to Tokyo and show the resilience to deliver our best possible performance.”
ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission Penny Briscoe said: “Swimming has consistently been a hugely successful sport for ParalympicsGB with Rio 2016 being an incredible high point as the squad amassed 47 medals with countless moments in the aquatic centre that will live long in my memory.
“I am confident this brilliant squad of athletes will have that single-minded focus to once again achieve their personal best performances to excite and inspire the British public at Tokyo 2020. I also want to take this opportunity to thank the athletes and support staff for their tireless work to prepare for the Games amidst such challenging circumstances.”