Athlete Profile

Events

2010 IPC World Championships, Netherlands

• Bronze 200m Freestyle 02:03.65

2009 IPC European Championships, Iceland

• Silver 200m Individual Medley 02:19.24
• Silver 100m Freestyle 00:56.17
• Silver 100m Backstroke 01:07.49

2009 INAS-FID Global Games, Czech Republic

• Gold 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 08:46.30
• Gold 4 x 100m Medley Relay 04:26.02 (WR)
• Silver 100m Freestyle 00:57.32
• Silver 50m Butterfly 00:28.55
• Silver 200m Freestyle 02:06.30
• Silver 4 x 50m Freestyle 01:47.29
• Bronze 200m Individual Medley 02:25.22
• Bronze 100m Butterfly 01:04.22
• Bronze 4 x 50m Medley Relay 02:07.06

2008 INAS-FID European Championships, Poland

• Gold 50m Backstroke 00:31.23
• Gold 100m Backstroke 01:08.18
• Gold 50m Butterfly 00:28.28
• Gold 100m Butterfly 01:02.52
• Gold 4 x 50m Freestyle 01:49.22
• Gold 4 x 100m Freestyle relay 04:00.36
• Gold 4 x 200m Freestyle relay 08:44.92 (WR)
• Gold 4 x 50m Medley relay 02:03.36
• Gold 4 x 100m Medley Relay 04:38.456
• Silver 100m Freestyle 00:56.34
• Bronze 50m Freestyle 00:26.37
• Bronze 200m Individual Medley 02:32.62

2007 INAS-FID World Championships, Belgium

• Gold 100m Butterfly 01:02.78
• Gold 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 01:49.09
• Gold 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 04:02.89
• Gold 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 08:47.51 (WR)
• Silver 50m Backstroke 00:31.72
• Silver 50m Butterfly 00:28.47
• Silver 50m Freestyle 00:26.56
• Silver 100m Freestyle 00:57.71
• Silver 4 x 50m Medley Relay 02:04.43
• Bronze 100m Backstroke 01:09.65
• Bronze 200m Individual Medley 02:28.03

2006 INAS-FID European Open Swimming Championships, Hungary

• Gold 100m Freestyle 00:57.21
• Gold 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 01:49.90 (BR)
• Gold 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 04:05.57
• Gold 4 x 50m Medley Relay 02:06.92
• Gold 4 x 100m Medley Relay 04:39.88
• Silver 50m Butterfly 00:28.96
• Silver Butterfly 01:05.13
• Silver 50m Backstroke 00:32.60
• Silver 100m Backstroke 01:10.49
• Silver 200m Individual Medley 02:31.99
• Bronze 50m Freestyle 00:27.40

2005 INAS-FID World Championships, Czech Republic

• Gold 4 x 100m Medley Relay 04:35.09
• Silver 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 01:51.12
• Bronze 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 04:13.14

Records Held

100m Individual Medley S/C	SM14	Penzance	2010	01:03.2	WR
200m Individual Medley S/C	SM14	Penzance	2010	02:16.6	WR
100m Butterfly S/C	S14	Penzance	2010	01:01.1	ER
100m Backstroke L/C	S14	Sheffield	2010	01:06.2	BR
200m Freestyle S/C	S14	Llandudno	2010	02:02.2	BR
100m Butterfly S/C	S14	Germany	2009	01:01.5	WR
4 x 100m Medley relay L/C	S14	Czech Republic	2009	04:26.0	WR
100m Freestyle S/C	S14	Sheffield	2009	00:55.2	ER
200m Freestyle S/C	S14	Penzance	2009	02:04.5	BR
50m Freestyle S/C	S14	Sheffield	2009	00:25.6	BR
50m Backstroke S/C	S14	Sheffield	2009	00:30.2	BR
100m Backstroke S/C	S14	Sheffield	2009	01:05.0	BR
50m Freestyle L/C	S14	Sheffield	2009	00:25.8	BR
50m Butterfly L/C	S14	Sheffield	2009	00:27.9	BR
100m Butterfly	S14	Sheffield	2009	01:00.9	BR
200m Backstroke S/C	S14	Cornwall	2008	02:20.5	WR
50m Butterfly S/C	S14	Sheffield	2008	00:27.6	WR
100m Freestyle S/C	S14	Sheffield	2008	00:55.6	WR
100m Individual Medley	S14	Sheffield	2008	01:04.5	WR
4 x 200m Freestyle Relay L/C	S14	Poland	2008	08:44.9	WR
100m Backstroke S/C	S14	Sheffield	2008	01:05.4	BR
50m Freestyle S/C	S14	Sheffield	2008	00:25.8	BR
50m Butterfly L/C	S14	Millfield	2008	00:28.5	BR
100m Backstroke L/C	S14	Millfield	2008	01:09.1	BR
100m Freestyle L/C	S14	Swansea	2008	00:57.0	BR
200m Freestyle L/C	S14	Swansea	2008	02:05.5	BR
50m Freestyle L/C	S14	Swansea	2007	00:26.6	BR
50m Backstroke L/C	S14	Sheffield	2006	00:32.4	BR
4 x 50m Freestyle Relay L/C	S14	Hungary	2006	01:49.9	BR

Ben was born in Oldham and started swimming as a baby. At the age of 5 he joined Saddleworth Swimming Club and later at the age of 10 became a member of Oldham Advanced Training Squad. He earned the Greater Manchester Sports Award and by the age of 14 qualified for the UKSA Great Britain Team. His debut representing Great Britain was at the INAS-FID World Championships 2005 in Czech Republic. Since then he has represented GB in five INAS-FID competitions, the 2009 IPC European Championships and 2010 IPC World Championships.

When he was 17 his grandparents Dilys and John who are his most devoted supporters, made a decision to move to Cornwell - 340 miles away from their previous home so that Ben could train at the Truro College's swimming facilities. Both admit it was their lifelong dream to retire to Cornwall and the opportunity for Ben to train at good swimming facilities made this decision definite. The family are however considering another move - to where Ben could train in a 50m pool.

Ben's daily life is set around swimming: Ben has to get up at 5.15am to go training, and then go to work and after that - simply another training session. He keeps himself motivated because he enjoys what he does: winning medals and making lots of friends. Ben has to had to face and overcome many difficulties in his pursuit to become a great swimmer, but he says its worth it.

All his family have been closely related to sport. His mum was a swimmer, while his uncles also swam and played rugby. Now one of his uncles works as a strength and conditioning coach for Halifax RLFC rugby league club. Alongside swimming Ben does conservation work and gardening as a volunteer and has just recently started to work as a General Assistant at Newquay Waterworld.

Career highlights

So far the highlights have been representing Great Britain and winning numerous medals. Ben is especially proud of earning silver in the IPC European Championships in 2009 and a bronze at the IPC World Championships in 2010. Unforgettable moments include winning the title of "Top Junior Boy for DSE" 2007 and 2008 and being chosen as an Ambassador for the "Pride of Oldham" in 2006.

Secrets of success

Training hard and having support from my club, coaches and family - particularly from my Gran and Granddad.

Advice to young athletes starting out

Aim for the top and try your best, but have other hobbies where you can relax.

Relaxation and free time

Even in my free time I like to be close to the water: I enjoy fishing and surfing. I learned surfing recently when I started to work as a volunteer in the local Holywell Bay Surf Life Saving Club. I also enjoy watching football, particularly "Manchester United" and rugby.

Role model

My uncle Andy. He has been involved in sport all his life. As a child he enjoyed swimming but later on went to play rugby. Now he works as a lecturer in Sports Science at Preston University and a Tactics and strength and conditioning coach for Halifax RLFC rugby league club. I look up to him because of his dedication to sport.

Favourite food and favourite kind of music

I love steak and I like to listen to hip hop and dance music.

Person he would like to meet?

Fellow swimmer Michael Phelps. I would like to ask him about his training routines and what makes him swim so fast.

What changes would you like to see in sport?

I would like to have more water time available and more 50m pools to train in. Also - have more coaches who understand disability would really help.

Future ambitions

To win gold at London 2012! I'd like to get a paid job I would enjoy, have lots of friends and enjoy life.

Other achievements

• Selected to UKSA G.B. Team 2005, 06,07,08,09
• Represented South West in Bristol College Students' National Championships in 2009
• Cornwall ASA Outstanding Sports Award 2008
• Top Junior Boy for DSE 2007 and 2008
• Pride of Oldham Sports Award 2006
• Oldham Schools FOSSA Award 2005 and 2006
• Greater Manchester Sports Award 2005
• Top Member at Oldham Aquatics 2004 and 2005
• Top Disability Oldham Sports Award 2004 and 2005
• The 100m Butterfly World Record attained in Germany in 2009, was entered into the 'Gold Book' in Bad Bergazbern which holds historical records dating back to the 1400's. Ben was representing his club the Newquay Cormorants.