Swimming Paralympic World Championships

For Immediate Release Thursday 19th August 2010


SCULLY NARROWLY MISSES OUT ON A BRONZE MEDAL AT THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN HOLAND

Irish teenager, James Scully, narrowly missed out on a Bronze medal tonight in the men's 200m Freestyle event (S5 Class) at the Paralympic World Championships in Eindhoven.

Scully, from Ratoath, Co. Meath, qualified for tonight's final having finished 3rd in this mornings heat with a time of 2.57.38, ranking him 5th going into the evening's final. Competing in his first major Championships, Scully put in an excellent swim, producing a new personal best time of 2.56.20, finishing just outside the medals in 4th position behind Brazilian, Daniel Dias who set a new World Record time of 2.26.51.

In the press room after the event, Scully declared, "I was very happy with the time, all the work I've put in during the year paid off for me tonight in the final. To see the score board with a new life time best on it and finishing 4th in my first major championships. I'm delighted"

Head of Paralympic Swimming, Dave Malone was delighted with the performance stating, "An excellent swim this evening from James. He had to fight hard in the last 50m to take 4th place, but he has done everything right this year in his training and it's a just reward for his efforts."

Stephen Campbell from Cookstown, Co Tyrone competed in his final event of the championships, the 400m Freestyle. The vision impaired swimmer finished 10th overall with a time of 5.26.45, taking a massive seven seconds of his own personal record.

Jonathan Cummings, also in his last race of these championships, set a time of 1.19.58 in the 100m Freestyle (S6 Class). The time is Cummings fastest performance since Beijing and having been out with injury is a good sign for his preparations being back on track for London 2012.

Competition continues tomorrow, August 20th, for the Irish Swimmers in the penultimate day of the Swimming Championships at the Pieter van den Hoogenband swimming stadium with 5 athletes in action in tomorrow mornings session. The Irish athletes are:

Stephen Campbell, 100m Backstroke
James Hamilton, 200m Freestyle
Matthew Bell, 200m Freestyle
James Scully, 100m Freestyle
Gina Lourens, 100m Freestyle

ENDS

For further information contact:
John Fulham, PCI Communications Officer, 087-2709182
communications@pcireland.ie