WARMINSTER Swimming Club member Harry Humphries is hoping his superb progress in the sport will result in qualification for this year’s Down’s Syndrome European Championships.
Humphries’ talent was first spotted in April 2017 at a gala in Southampton specifically for people with Down’s Syndrome.
At that time, he was only swimming once a week with Bristol Sharks, a special needs swimming club.
Upon the advice of a Team GB coach to further his improvement, Humphries joined Soundwell Swimming Club, a mainstream club who focus on training swimmers to compete and win.
Within months of joining Soundwell, he was selected to represent Great Britain in the Down’s Syndrome European Championships held in Paris in September 2017.
Humphries revelled in the amazing experience, performing well to win an invite to represent Team GB again at an Open Championship in Kosovo.
In July 2018, Humphries represented GB at the Downs Syndrome World Championships in Canada, finishing ninth in the 200m backstroke.
Last September, Humphries joined Fairfield Farm College in Dilton Marsh as a residential student, staying Monday to Friday.
Fairfield Farm College is a registered charity and specialist college for young people with learning difficulties.
Shortly afterwards, Humphries joined nearby Warminster Swimming Club in order to increase his training to include an early swim and a one-to-one evening session with his coach.
As well as attending college full-time, undertaking training for work and independence as a young adult, Humphries swims five days per week as well as competing in galas.
He continues to smash his personal bests, winning gold, silver and bronze medals on a regular basis.
He is now focusing on his qualifying times to attend the next Down’s Syndrome European Championships in Sardinia in September.
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