Swimmers make a huge splash in city galas

Wavertree Aquatics Centre hosted two fantastic swimming galas today as both able-bodied and disability swimmers took centre stage on a thrilling day of competition.

During the morning session, children from five Severe Learning Disability (SLD) schools took part in a gala which gave SLD swimmers the opportunity to compete against each other over 25m in the breaststroke, backstroke and freestyle strokes.

In a truly inspirational event, swimmers with the most severe disabilities were given help and support from staff to ensure they finished each race.

Organiser Jess McNally from the Liverpool Schools Sports Partnership called it “one of the best events we’ve ever been involved in”, adding “it just shows what can be achieved when you are given the opportunity to shine”.

In the afternoon, five qualifying schools battled it out for the right to be crowned KS3 (Years 7,8&9) swimming champions of Liverpool with St Margaret’s winning the boys’ competition and Belvedere Academy clinching the silverware for the girls.

The girls and boys’ races were held at the same time and all were extremely close, with Calderstones School finishing runners up in both competitions and just a few points away from the gold medal position.

There were a number of top performers on display – including many club swimmers – with City of Liverpool’s Katana Rumble particularly impressive throughout.