Strong Kiwi swim team leaves for world champs

The strong New Zealand team leave late this afternoon (Saturday 21 November)
for the IPC Swimming World Championships 25m in Rio, Brazil for what is the
first ever IPC(International Paralympic Committee) short course
championships.

The team features Beijing Paralympians Sophie Pascoe, Cameron Leslie and
Daniel Sharp as well as several new names in Auckland's Rebecca Dubber and
Daniel Holt, Michael Ardern(Waikato) and Mary Fisher(Wellington), all of
whom excelled at the recent PNZ national champs in Wellington.

"It's a very good team with a mix of experience from those who did well at
Beijing and a number of rising stars looking ahead to 2012 and London," says
team manager Clive Power. "Some quite challenging qualifying criteria has
been put in place. There are always going to be athletes who stand up around
the world, but there is some tight classifications.

We know what the world rankings are and Sophie Pascoe particularly has to be
near the top, although with this being the first world short course it's a
little bit unknown. Rebecca Dubber could also come through strongly."

The team returns to New Zealand Wednesday 9 December.


Athletes
Sophie Pascoe - Christchurch
Cameron Leslie - Auckland
Daniel Sharp - Auckland
Rebecca Dubber - Auckland
Michael Ardern - Waikato
Daniel Holt - Auckland
Mary Fisher - Wellington

Team Management
Clive Power - Team Manager (contact ph: 021 660 293)
Claire Sanders - Physiotherapist
Roly Crichton - Coach
Simon Mayne - Coach
Jason Healy - Performance Analyst

http://www.swimmingrio2009.com.br/


For more information please contact:
Clive Power - Team Manager ph: 021 660 293

Paralympics New Zealand proudly supported by:

Principal Sponsor
Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand

Supported By
SPARC | NZAS | Lion Foundation
Air New Zealand I Blue Star Print - New Zealand