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| Home » News » Beijing-bound swimmer qualifies on home territory
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| Beijing-bound swimmer qualifies on home territory |
 One of Sheffield's leading swim stars has clinched his place in the Great Britain squad for Beijing this summer.
James Kirton ended his British Championship week at Ponds Forge on a high, finishing second with a personal best in the 200m breaststroke final to confirm his participation in the forthcoming Olympic Games.
The City of Sheffield Swim Squad star, from Barnsley, had given spectators at his home venue an insight into what they can expect from him in China with a dazzling display in the heats the evening before securing his selection in the final at the Sheffield International Venues facility.
The Beijing-bound hopeful, who celebrates his 24th birthday this month, will join Sheffield club-mate James Crisp after he qualified for the Paralympics in the 400m freestyle and 100m backstroke earlier this week.
Russ Barber, head coach of the City of Sheffield Swim Squad, said: "Congratulations to both men. It's a wonderful achievement and the whole of South Yorkshire will be as proud of them as we are.
"We have been producing world class swimmers in Sheffield for many years now and we will be supporting them both all the way in Beijing.
"Kirton's personal best in the 200m breaststroke of 2:12.93 means only him and Edinburgh's Kris Gilchrist achieved the required time to make the cut.
The British Swimming Championships were brought to Sheffield by the council's Major Sports Events Unit.
Meanwhile, four Sheffield-based swim stars of the future also enjoyed qualification success. Ainsley Hesseltine, Ellie Faulkner and Rebecca Turner (all 15) qualified for the European Youth Championships and Jack Dunn, also 15, will be representing Great Britain at the World Youth Championships later this year. |
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