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Teen swimmer sets sights on Special Olympics glory

Naj Modak,South of Englandand
Edward Sault,Dorchester
Sam Craddock said he will win "3,000" gold medals

A nineteen-year-old swimmer has said he will win "3,000 gold medals" in the Special Olympics Great Britain.

Sam Craddock, from Dorchester in Dorset, has Down's syndrome and will be competing in the 50m freestyle, 50m breast stoke and 100m individual medley.

The event in Birmingham, between Thursday 27 and Sunday 30 August, will see more than 1,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities compete across several sports.

Craddock said: "I like swimming because I like to be stronger and work out in the gym."

BBC/Edward Sault Darcie Curtis with long wavy hair and glasses stands in front of an indoor swimming pool. She is wearing a dark collared shirt and is facing the camera. The background contains swimming lanes, pool railings, and a well-lit indoor aquatic facility with large windows and upper-level viewing areas, softly blurred to keep focus on Darcie.BBC/Edward Sault
Darcie Curtis said she is 'proud' of Sam Craddock

The teenager trains weekly at the 1610 Dorchester Sports Centre.

His coach, Darcie Curtis said: "I'm so proud of him, honestly, I couldn't say that enough. He's come on such a long way."

His mum, Annette, added: "I'm so proud of him. It's going to be emotional; it's going to be amazing."

As well as swimming in Dorchester, Craddock also swims with his friend Jake Binns at the Wild Shark Swim School in Shaftesbury. Binns will also be competing.

BBC/Edward Sault Annette wearing a sleeveless blue floral top stands in front of an indoor swimming pool. She is centered in the frame and facing the camera. The background is softly blurred and shows multiple swimming lanes, poolside decking, and a bright, modern aquatic facility with large windows and upper-level walkways.BBC/Edward Sault
Sam Craddock's mum, Annette said the event will be 'emotional'

He said: "I really cried when I found out I had a place in the Special Olympics in Birmingham.

"I am so excited. My favourite swim stroke is butterfly because I have big shoulders."

Lorah Wild, who runs Wild Sharks, said: "We had to get the team together this end and then get it affiliated with Special Olympics, which isn't an easy feat because it is a lot of hurdles and hoops that we had to jump over and climb through, but we got there."

Special Olympics GB offers people with intellectual disabilities or learning disabilities a chance to take part in sport within their communities all year round.

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