Para swimmers head to Sandwell as Swim England hosts Aquatics GB Winter Meet

The starter is ready ahead packed weekend of short course racing as Swim England hosts the 2024 Aquatics GB Para-Swimming Winter Meet.

More than 100 para swimmers will be competing across 21 events at Birmingham’s Sandwell Aquatics Centre this weekend, with some of the nation’s top athletes descending on the home of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

A host of ParalympicsGB’s stars from the Paris 2024 games will be amongst those heading to the Midlands, including the likes of Alice Tai, Rebecca Redfern, Iona Winnifrith and Olivia Newman-Baronius.

They’ll be back in the water following a stellar Games in the French capital as they look to add some national gold to their collection.

For many of them it will be a chance to maximise the training of their skills to start off the new campaign, whilst others will relish the opportunity to compete alongside some of Britain’s best.

It also brings an opportunity for those developing para swimmers to achieve their respective qualification times for the GoCardless Swim England National Winter Championships in less than two weeks time.

The action all kicks off at 9am on Saturday 23 November with the exciting 100m freestyle events to start the first of two sessions on the opening day.

Day one concludes at around 3:35pm, before a fast-paced two-hour finale on Sunday morning to round out the competition.

Meet some of ParalympicsGB’s top stars

There’s also a special meet and greet session for the new and emerging para swimmers, as well as those in attendance to meet the Paralympians that are competing with their medals.

Athletes that represented ParalympicsGB in Paris will be in the café area from 11:30am to 12pm on Saturday, where you can have your picture taken with their medals.

There will also be a special guest appearance from the 2022 Commonwealth Games mascot, Perry the Bull!

Live results for the event in Birmingham will be available here, and those who are able to get to Birmingham can still purchase their tickets for the event on venue.

Event photography throughout the Championships will be provided by Will Johnston Photography and the full draft programme for the event is also available here.