Harry is a swimming success for Team GB

A STUDENT from Fairfield Farm College in Dilton Marsh, Harry Humphries, has been representing Team GB in swimming.

The college reports, “Harry was first spotted in April 2017 at a gala in Southampton, specifically for people with Downs Syndrome.

“Harry had only been swimming for a short time and this was his second gala but he performed well. At that time, he was only swimming once a week with Bristol Sharks, a special needs swimming club. The coach from Team GB said he must swim more to improve, and he joined Soundwell Swimming Club, a mainstream club who focus on training swimmers to compete and win. 

“Within months of joining Soundwell Swimming Club, he was selected to represent his country in the European Down Syndrome Swimming Competition held in Paris in September 2017.  The experience in Paris was amazing and he performed really well, he was invited to go to Kosovo for an Open Championship, again representing Team GB.  

“In July 2018, Harry represented GB in Canada at the Downs Syndrome World Championships, coming 9th in the world for his 200m backstroke.  He increased his swim time with Bristol City Swimming club, joining the Para Team in training along with the Gold Squad with mainstream swimmers.

“Harry joined Fairfield Farm College, Dilton Marsh in September 2018 as a residential student, staying Monday to Friday.  Fairfield Farm College is a registered charity and specialist college for young people with learning difficulties. Harry joined Warminster Swimming Club, near the college, so that he could 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, he is also swimming five days per week and competing in galas.  He continues to smash his personal best (PB), winning gold, silver and bronze medals on a regular basis.  He is now focusing on his qualifying times to attend the next Downs Syndrome European Championships in Sardinia in September.