IN THE POOL - Swimming.Org
IN THE POOL - Swimming.Org
IN THE POOL - Swimming.Org
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
SWIMM<strong>IN</strong>G PROFILES: WOMEN<br />
ELLIE SIMMONDS<br />
Club: Swansea HPC<br />
Coach: Billy Pye<br />
Dob: 11/11/1994<br />
Born: Walsall<br />
Trains: Swansea<br />
Lives: Swansea during the week and<br />
Walsall at the weekends.<br />
Occupation: I am in Year 12 at school<br />
and doing AS Levels Part Time in History<br />
and World Development<br />
QUALIFIED EVENTS:<br />
50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle, 400m Freestyle,<br />
200m Individual Medley<br />
ACHIEVEMENTS:<br />
IPC European Championships 2011: S6 50Fr Bronze,<br />
S6 100Fr Silver, S6 400Fr Gold, S6 100Ba 5th, SM6 200IM Gold<br />
IPC World Championships 2010: S6 50Fr Gold, S6 100Fr Gold,<br />
S6 400Fr Gold, SM6 200IM Gold, 20pt 4x50MR Bronze,<br />
34pt 4x100FR Silver, 34pt 4x100MR Silver<br />
IPC European Championships 2009: S6 50Fr Gold,<br />
S6 100Fr Gold, S6 400fr Gold, SM6 200IM Gold,<br />
34pt 4x100MR Gold<br />
Paralympic Games 2008: S6 50Fr 5th, S6 100Fr Gold,<br />
S6 400Fr Gold, S6 50Fly 8th, SM6 200IM 5th<br />
IPC World Championships 2006: S6 50Fr 7th, S6 100Fr 7th,<br />
S6 400Fr 6th, S6 50Fly 8th<br />
<strong>IN</strong> <strong>THE</strong> <strong>POOL</strong><br />
How were the Paralympic trials for you? It was a big surprise<br />
to break a world record in the Olympic pool. I didn’t think I<br />
would go that fast as in my other races I was two seconds<br />
off my best. When I touched and saw the time I was in<br />
complete shock.<br />
What are your goals for the London Paralympics? All I can<br />
ask of myself is to swim the best I can. Having competed in<br />
the pool already will hopefully give me an advantage in the<br />
summer. I can’t wait to compete in front of a packed<br />
home crowd.<br />
What has been your finest performance so far and why? The<br />
100m Freestyle in Beijing. To win Paralympic gold was such a<br />
surprise and was the highlight of my career. I think the 400m<br />
Freestyle at the World Championships in 2010 was also good<br />
because it was just me against the clock and proved to me<br />
that I can swim when out on my own.<br />
What is your favourite Event? 100m Freestyle I seem to<br />
enjoy the most. Freestyle is my favourite stroke and the 100m<br />
is only two lengths.<br />
When was your international senior debut? The World<br />
Championships in Durban in 2006. I was only 12. It seems so<br />
long ago.<br />
Who is your toughest opponent? Mirjam de Koning Peper<br />
(NED) in the Freestyle and Natalie Jones (GBR) in the Medley.<br />
Best Venue? Beijing. It was so big and spectacular. Great<br />
to race in and I did my best races there. The crowd gave<br />
everyone such a big lift.<br />
OUT OF <strong>THE</strong> <strong>POOL</strong><br />
Do you have any Superstitions? No.<br />
Favourite way to relax? Going shopping or to the cinema. I<br />
like sleeping too.<br />
Any hobbies away from the pool? With school I don’t really<br />
have much time for anything but I really enjoy baking.<br />
What’s the best thing you cook? My carrot and walnut<br />
muffins. I always bake the cake for birthdays for people on<br />
the team, I really enjoy making them.<br />
Best concert you have been to? Justin Bieber in Manchester<br />
was really good.<br />
Who would you most like to meet? David Beckham or<br />
Justin Bieber.<br />
What are your must watch TV programmes? I enjoy Come<br />
Dine With Me. Actually it would be cool to go on it.<br />
What could you not live without Laptop or Mobile? Mobile.<br />
Ideal holiday destination? It would be between either New<br />
York and Australia.<br />
Which 5 people would you want at your ultimate dinner<br />
party? David Beckham, Justin Bieber, Usain Bolt, Alan Carr<br />
and Louie Spence.<br />
CONTENTS<br />
PR<strong>IN</strong>T
Change language