IN THE POOL - Swimming.Org

SWIMMING PROFILES: WOMEN
STEPHANIE MILLWARD
Club: Swansea ITC
Coach: Billy Pye
Dob: 20/09/1981
Born: Saudi Arabia
Trains: Swansea
Lives: Swansea
Occupation: Full time athlete but I am
also studying A Level Psychology and I
am writing a book and hopefully it will be
finished by the end of the year
QUALIFIED EVENTS:
400m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke, 100m Butterfly,
200m Individual Medley
ACHIEVEMENTS:
IPC European Championships 2011: S9 50Fr 4th,
S9 100Fr Silver, S9 400Fr Gold, S9 100Ba Gold,
S9 100Fly Silver, 34Pt 4x100MR Gold
Commonwealth Games 2010: S9 50Fr Bronze,
S9 100Fr Silver, S9 100Fly Silver
IPC World Championships 2010: S9 100Fr Silver,
S9 400Fr Silver, S9 100Ba Silver, S9 100Fly Bronze,
34pt 4x100FR Silver, 34pt 4x100MR Silver
IPC European Championships 2009: S9 100Fr Silver,
S9 400Fr Gold, S9 100Ba Gold, S9 100Fly Gold,
34pt 4x100FR Gold, 34pt 4x100MR Gold
Paralympic Games 2008: S9 50Fr 7th, S9 100Fr 5th,
S9 100Ba 4th, S9 100Fly 13th
IN THE POOL
How were the Paralympic trials for you? They were good.
The plan for London was to enter as many events as possible
to get experience of competing in the venue and I qualified
for three events during the week. At the Sheffield trials I
added the 200m Individual Medley and it was a big surprise
because I only decided to do the event a couple of weeks
before and had to pretty much learn how to do breaststroke
as I had hardly ever done it before.
What are your goals for the London Paralympics? To enjoy
it mainly and to do as well as I can do. I would love to win
medals of course but as long as I do the best I can I will
be happy.
What has been your finest performance so far and why?
Winning the world short course title in the 100m Freestyle
in Rio, 2009. I did nine events overall and this was the last of
them, I was so shattered. I decided to just go for it, won and
broke the world record.
What is your favourite Event? 100m Backstroke because I
enjoy it more than the others.
When was your international senior debut? Paralympics
in 2008.
Who is your toughest opponent? Natalie Du Toit. She has
won so much over a number of years and is the person
to beat.
Best Venue? I think Rio because it was exciting. It was an
outdoor pool and there was a storm when we were in
the pool!
OUT OF THE POOL
Do you have any Superstitions? No.
Favourite way to relax? I find writing my book is a good way
to relax.
Any hobbies away from the pool? Not that it is a hobby
but I am getting married next year. So wedding planning,
swimming and writing my book takes up the majority of my
time. I plan to go horse riding after the Games though as I
have not been for a couple of years.
What’s the best thing you cook? Lasagne is my favourite and
any reason to make it I will!
Best concert you have been to? I went to see Westlife and
Take That and they were both really good. I like the Theatre
too and Les Miserables is my favourite.
Who would you most like to meet? No one I can think of.
What are your must watch TV programmes? I am not a huge
television watcher. Although I like CSI, Diagnosis Murder and
House.
What could you not live without Laptop or Mobile? Laptop.
Ideal holiday destination? I loved Antigua when I went but I
really want to go to Hawaii so hopefully for the honeymoon.
Which five people would you want at your ultimate dinner
party? Joanna Lumley, Dawn French, Sean Connery, my mum
and my fiancé.
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