Rebecca Adlington leads England swimming squad for Commonwealth Games
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Double Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington has been joined in England's Commonwealth Games team by an array of title winners.
World University Games champion Stephanie Proud, former four-time European junior title winner Anne Bochmann and former double world junior gold medallist Daniel Sliwinski join Adlington in the squad for Delhi.
The 45-strong team, announced today by Commonwealth Games England, will compete against the likes of world number two swimming nation Australia, the re-emerging Canada team and a strong South African squad as well as renewing rivalries with Scotland and Wales.
Making a splash: Rebecca Adlington
England swimming squad
Rebecca Adlington (Nova Centurion), Achieng Ajulu-Bushell (Ealing), Robert Bale (Loughborough ITC), Steven Beckerleg (Plymouth Leander), Ryan Bennett (Stirling ITC), Anne Bochmann (City of Leeds), Adam Brown (Hatfield), Simon Burnett (Tucson), Richard Charlesworth (Hatfield), Daniel Coombs (Loughborough ITC), Ross Davenport (Loughborough ITC), Jessica Dickons (Bath ITC), Daniel Fogg (Loughborough ITC), Ellen Gandy (CA Tritans), James Goddard (Stockport ITC), Francesca Halsall (Loughborough ITC), Kate Haywood (Loughborough ITC), Kate Hutchinson (Loughborough Uni), Jo Jackson (Loughborough ITC), Anthony James (Plymouth Leander), Sasha Matthews (Nova Centurion), Thomas Parris (Stirling ITC), Roberto Pavoni (Loughborough ITC), Keri-Anne Payne (Stockport ITC), Stephanie Proud (Florida Gators), Michael Rock (Stockport ITC), Joe Roebuck (Loughborough Uni), Emma Saunders (Manchester Aquatics), Elizabeth Simmonds (Loughborough ITC), Daniel Sliwinski (Gallica), Amy Smith (Loughborough Uni), Gemma Spofforth (Florida Gators), Jess Sylvester (Nova Centurion), Stacey Tadd (Bath University), Liam Tancock (Loughborough ITC), Becki Turner (City of Sheffield), Grant Turner (Loughborough ITC), Chris Walker-Hebborn (Bath ITC), Richard Webb (Bath ITC), Aimee Willmott (Middlesbrough), Katherine Wyld (Nova Centurion).
Paralympic swimmers: Stephanie Millward, (Swansea HPC), Simon Miller (City of Manchester), Robert Welbourn (Swansea HPC).
Fifteen swimmers, including three paralympic athletes, were added to the team following last week's final qualification event in Sunderland.
They also include the likes of Kate Haywood, a 50metres breaststroke silver medallist at the recent European Championships, and Antony James, 100m butterfly finalist in Budapest.
Four years ago in Melbourne, England's swimmers returned with 22 medals and England's team leader John Atkinson believes the 2010 team has the quality to get close to that figure.
Atkinson said: 'I'm delighted Commonwealth Games England has selected such an impressive contingent of athletes to represent England with 45 swimmers being one of the largest swimming teams in the modern era of the Games.
'It's a full strength England team with tremendous potential. To have so many Olympic and World Championship medallists competing for England will serve the team well as they enter their final preparations for Delhi in October.'
Accompanying established athletes such as Adlington, world champions Liam Tancock and Gemma Spofforth and the three-time World Championship medallist Jo Jackson, is a crop of young talent.
For the likes of Ryan Bennett, Bochmann and Emma Saunders, the Commonwealth Games will provide the athletes with their first major international event. Atkinson said: 'We have seen a number of breakthrough performances this season to make the England team and that's exciting for the sport.
'However, it will be tough in Delhi for our swimmers. Australia continues to be a dominant force in world swimming, Canada are riding high after an impressive two years and the likes of New Zealand and South Africa will always challenge for medals.
'For the swimmers, the Commonwealth Games has been the focus of their entire year and I'm excited at our prospects.'
England's chef de mission Craig Hunter said: 'It is with pride that we welcome such a strong swimming contingent into the England team for the Games in October.
'We wish them every success with their final preparations for Delhi and at the Games themselves.'
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