The Isle of Man swim team for Glasgow 2014 is the biggest swim team the Island has ever sent to the Games – and it definitely has youth on its side. Four of the seven who have been selected are making the transition to the full Commonwealth Games after competing in 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games. The other three swimmers were too young to take part in 2011! All are still in full-time education.
Despite having an average age of only 17, there is plenty of experience in the team:
Charlotte Atkinson – Charlotte, 17, has already been ranked 9th in the world for the 100m butterfly in 2014 and will compete in the butterfly and freestyle events at Glasgow 2014. She is currently based at Plymouth College.
• 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games – finalist in 200m backstroke, 200m butterfly, 400m freestyle and 400m individual medley.
• 2013 Island Games – gold in both the 50m butterfly and 50m backstroke plus three individual silvers and a silver and bronze in the relays.
Grant Halsall – Grant, 20, will be hoping his run up to Glasgow 2014 will be smoother than his preparation for the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2011. He missed the European Junior Championships that year due to glandular fever and then broke his hand the day before he was due to participate in the World Junior Championships in Peru. He staged a remarkable recovery to win the Isle of Man’s first ever medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games shortly after. Grant now studies at Northwestern University in Chicago and will compete in the backstroke, butterfly, freestyle and men’s relay.
• Commonwealth Youth Games - silver in the 200m backstroke. Silver in the 50m backstroke and bronze in the 100m backstroke.
• 2013 Island Games - 4 gold medals and a bronze as well as three Island Games records.
Laura Kinley – Aged 18, Laura is another competitor who represented the Isle of Man at the Commonwealth Youth Games 2011. An A-Level student at St Ninian’s High School, she will be participating in the breaststroke and freestyle events at Glasgow 2014.
• 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games – finalist in the 50m breaststroke.
• Represented the Isle of Man at the London Aquatic Centre in the 2012 Olympic Trials British Championships, setting new Isle of Man Junior and Senior 50m breaststroke records.
• Represented the victorious North West of England in the English Schools National Championship 2013, picking up golds in the Senior 200m breaststroke, the Senior 4 x 100m medley relay and the Senior 4 x 100m freestyle relay. Silver in the 100m breaststroke.
• 2013 Island Games - new Island Games Record on the way to silver in the 50m breaststroke and another in the 200m breaststroke where she won gold. Silver in the 100m breaststroke. Key member of all of the relay teams claiming 4 Senior Island Records, silver in the 4 x 50m medley and bronze in the 4 x 100m medley.
Guy Davies – Guy, 17, made huge progress during 2013 when he was selected for his first Island Games. He studies at Castle Rushen High School and will compete in the breaststroke, individual medley and men’s relay.
• 2013 Island Games – finalist in the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke events in Bermuda, setting a new Senior Island record with his 4th place in the 100m breaststroke. Set another Senior Island record in the heats of the 200m breaststroke, eventually claiming the silver medal. A key member of 3 relay teams setting new Senior Island Records.
Tom Bielich – Aged 19, Tom has had an injury prone few years since competing in the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games but has worked hard to earn a place in the freestyle and men’s relay events. He is currently studying at Bath University.
• 2013 Island Games – Tom produced some great swims, making a number of finals, and was a key member of the relay teams.
Alex Bregazzi – The youngest male swimmer the Isle of Man swim team has ever sent to the Commonwealth Games, Alex will celebrate his 16th birthday in the pool at Glasgow 2014 and this will be his first major event. He will compete in the freestyle and men’s relay. A student at Ballakermeen High School, Alex has already tasted success this year by becoming Lancashire County Champion in the 400m freestyle and hopes to be selected for 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa.
Niamh Robinson – Just 14, Niamh will be the youngest competitor from the Isle of Man travelling to Glasgow 2014 but follows in illustrious footsteps as her mother Suzanne swam in the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland. Niamh is a multiple Lancashire County Champion for 2014 and, like Alex, hopes to be selected for the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games. She will compete in the breaststroke, backstroke and individual medley events in Glasgow.
Some of the Team Isle of Man swimming squad who will be going to this summer’s Commonwealth Games. Left to right are Laura Kinley, Leonie Cooil (Team Manager), Guy Davies, Lee Holland (Coach), and Alex Bregazzi.
