Manx swimmer joins British Para Academy

Thu, 17 Nov 2016

Ben Grainger at the Team GB Paralympic trials earlier this year (picture from Isle of Man Swimming Association)

A Manx teenager has been named in the British Swimming Para Academy.

13-year-old Ben Grainger from Ramsey is one of 49 athletes named in the programme, which will prepare competitors for the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo.

Grainger, who has previously been part of Britain's development programme, won three golds and two silvers in the Under-13s category at last year's British Disability Championships, adding to two British Para titles won a year earlier.

The teenager set a series of personal bests at Team GB's Paralympic trials earlier this year, where he reached a senior final for the first time in his career.

The academy is the entry level to the programme, which also works with athletes who are expected to win medals.