Three team members of the newly-formed Microgaming Para-Swimming Isle of Man team competing at the British Disability Championships in Manchester recently, 12 year old Ben Grainger, 15 year old Tom Callister and 11 year old Letisha Ellis found themselves in tough company which was made up of over 10 Paralympians from London 2012 and several world and British record holders.
Ben is an S10 swimmer who is missing most of his left hand below his wrist, while Tom is an S9 swimmer missing most of his right hand from his elbow and Letisha is an S15 category swimmer wearing duel cochlear implants, without which she is profoundly deaf.
Ben managed to collect three gold and two silver medals in the British 13-and-under category with the golds claimed in the 100m freestyle, 50m freestyle and 100m butterfly and the silvers claimed in the 400m freestyle and 100m breaststroke.
Tom collected a surprise bronze medal in the British 14-17 age group 200m individual medley and came fourth and fifth place in the 100m freestyle and 100m breaststroke.
Letisha improved her personal best times in her events on the first day and saw more personal best times on day two which was accompanied by silver medals in the British 13-and-under S15 400m freestyle and the 100m butterfly.
According to the swim times recorded at the championships, both Ben and Tom have qualified to compete at the Team GB Rio 2016 Paralympic trials that is scheduled to take place in Glasgow in April, 2016.
