Barbadian swimmer?David Taylor has been granted a wild card entry for the Paralympics in London from August 29.
A delighted Taylor, who represented the island at the Beijing Paralympics in the 100 metres breaststroke and 50 metres butterfly and at the Parapan American Games, expressed joy with the news of his wild card as well as financial support from Britain.
“In Beijing, I finished with a world ranking of 13, and since then, I have been totally focussed on my training with the hopes of making the London Olympics,” said the 44-year-old Taylor, minutes after receiving a cheque from visiting British Foreign Office Minister Henry Bellingham.
“I am currently recognized as 13 in the world in my events but I want to improve on that and medal in London for my country. Presently, I train six days a week in the Aquatic Centre’s pool and then I spend Sundays in the sea for therapy and relaxation.”
Taylor was part of the 100 Days To Go Olympics event which was hosted at the National Stadium Wednesday by the British minister.?Also present were High Commissioner Paul Brummell and Second Secretary Dan Carruthers.
Also in attendance was secretary general of the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA), Erskine Simmons, along with Dave Farmer as well as chef de mission Cammie Burke; chairman of the National Sports Council, Seibert Straughn; director Erskine King, assistant director Mona Allyene; president of Special Olympics Barbados, Thelma Brathwaite; president of the Paralympics Association Wesley Worrell, president of the Amateur Athletics Association, Esther Maynard, and several special athletes.
Bellingham presented cheques to Worrell and Brathwaite and gave London 2012 gift packages to Shawn Cooke, Korey Worrell and Nikita Maycock, who won special 100 events on the track.
He said the Olympics in London promised to be the best ever and he hoped that while competitors would be pursuing medals, they would ignite greater interest and motivation for future athletes.
“We want London 2012 to be about creating and maintaining sporting legacies,” he stressed. (KB)
