Team Wales Swimming Announcement

Team Wales Announce the Swimming team for Trinbago 2023  

Today, Team Wales announce the athletes selected as part of the Swimming team for the Commonwealth Youth Games, which takes place in the twin island nation of Trinidad and Tobago from 4-11 August this summer. 

Swimming will have 10 swimmers amongst the team of 40 athletes and 20 support staff who will compete across four sports; Athletics, Swimming, Women Rugby 7s and Cycling. 

Trinbago Swim Wales Team Leader Graeme Antwhistle said ‘The Commonwealth Youth Games are the perfect platform for these promising young athletes to develop not only as swimmers, but as people, through their first experience of an international multi-sport competition. Their selection is testament to their hard work and dedication during what is a busy period of their lives, and they should be so proud of what they have achieved. They can now embrace the challenge of testing themselves against some of the very best young swimmers from around the world, while representing Team Wales.’ 

The Games will see more than 1,000 athletes and para-athletes between the ages of 14-18 across the 72 nations and territories around the Commonwealth compete across 7 sports this summer;  

Aquatics (Swimming), Athletics and Para Athletics, Cycling (Road Race, Time Trial and Track) and Triathlon, as well as FAST5 Netball, Rugby Sevens and Beach Volleyball. 

Ross Nicholas, Swim Wales National Performance Director said: ‘The Commonwealth Youth Games provide a rare opportunity for swimmers to represent Wales on the world stage and I would like congratulate each and every athlete heading out to Trinidad & Tobago. While each athlete will be determined to deliver their best performances, they should also savour the experience and enjoy every minute as they have worked incredibly hard to reach these Games. The Commonwealth Youth Games are a key step on the exciting development path for these athletes, and we wish them the very best of luck.’ 

 

Since its launch in 2000, the Youth Games has continued to grow to provide a unique opportunity to experience elite sport on the international stage, promote cultural understanding and create lifelong friendships across the Commonwealth. 

At the last Youth Games in Bahamas 2017, Team Wales brought home 13 medals across six sports, with swimming securing 4. Lewis Fraser won Team Wales’ first Gold medal of the Games in the 100m butterfly and bronze in the 50m butterfly. Medi Harris won silver in the 50m backstroke and clinched her second medal with a bronze in the 200m backstroke, breaking the junior Welsh record, held by Olympic and Commonwealth swimmer Georgia Davies. 

Commonwealth Games Wales President, Helen Phillips MBE added ‘‘Our swimmers in recent games have always excelled, showed unity as a team and embraced multi sporting games very professionally. Despite this being a youth event, there is incredible experience with the likes of Lewis Fraser, Media Harris and Becky Sutton who were outstanding at the last youth games in 2017, they are an example of the importance these games have as a platform to compete at the main Commonwealth Games and other senior events. I wish all 10 swimmers the best of luck, and to enjoy their Commonwealth experience.’  

Introducing Team Wales Swimming 

Holly Marshall: Multiple

Mabli Collyer: Multiple

Sophie Brassington: Multiple

Sophie Davies: Multiple 

Theodora Taylor: Multiple 

Joshua O’Brien: Multiple 

Maxwell Anderson: Multiple

Rhydian Arch: Multiple

Solomon Williams: Multiple

Tyler Melbourne-Smith: Multiple