Ballymoney lad Gareth scoops prizes
Thursday, 27 November 2008
Ballymoney swimmer Gareth Brown who won the Nationwide Top Performer Cup for his medal tally in the 50m and 100m events in this year’s Nationwide NI Swimming Championships for People with Disabilities.
BALLYMONEY lad Gareth Brown has scooped the Nationwide Top Performer Cup for his medal tally in the 50m and 100m events in this year's Nationwide NI Swimming Championships for People with Disabilities held at Lagan Valley LeisurePlex, Lisburn on Saturday November 8.
Gareth won two gold medals, two bronze medals and one silver medal on that triumphant Saturday afternoon, making it the first time in all his entries in this competition, that he has ever won a cup, a tremendous achievement considering there was 160 people taking part in the event.
The 19-year-old NRC student has been swimming competitively for nine years now and trains four times a week at The Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre here in Ballymoney.
As well as being part of Ballymoney swimming club, Gareth also swims for the Special Olympics team in Coleraine.
However, Gareth isn't the only one in his family with an interest in swimming, older brother Nicholas and younger brother Matthew also take an avid interest, making it a family hobby, but mum Nina said his brothers haven't reached the same standard that Gareth has just yet.
She said: "Gareth first got into swimming when he was having physiotherapy and was being exercised in a hydro pool. He then continued his swimming and his teacher at the time entered him into competitions.
“He has swam in England and Wales as well as swimming for the Ulster Squad every month, and representing his country when he swam for Ireland."
Gareth's ultimate goal at the minute is to get better times and train harder and hopefully be in London for the 2012 Olympics. What with all his training, does Gareth ever get time for any other hobbies? His mum said: "Not really, when he's not training he's at Ballymoney tech, where he is doing a full time route ways course. As well as that he works part time in Trolan's supermarket. They're all very good to him there, they support him in his swimming and he has made some good friends. We're all very proud of him and his achievements."
The Nationwide NI swimming Championships for people with disabilities, which is the only pan disability swimming event to be held in Ireland, was supported by four of Irelands Paralympians with Johnny Cummings and Ellen Keane taking to the water on numerous occasions to show off the skill and technique that propelled them into a top 10 place at the Beijing Games.
