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
- Claire Sanders - Physiotherapist
- Roly Crichton - Coach
- Simon Mayne - Coach
- Jason Healy - Performance Analyst
