Paul Palmer was one of the many british swimmers, to compete in Atlanta. He came away with a silver medal, but says he has his sights set on gold in the year 2000. His most amazing moment, was when he dead-heated for 8th place in the olympic 200m freestyle event. He had to swim against Jani Sievinen of Finland "It was a really close battle," he said "and I couldn't believe it when we both got the same times.... again! In the end Jani pulled out of the second swim-off and so he went into the final. Paul trains 10 times a week, he puts his success down to a brilliant coach and supportive parents.
Name:
Paul Palmer
DOB:
18th October 1974
Height
6ft 5ins
Weight:
14st
Club:
City of Lincoln Pentaqua
Coach:
Ian Turner
Stroke:
Freestyle (200m, 400m and 1500m)
Achievements:
Olympic silver medalist (400m freestyle) 1996
World short course bronze medalist (400m freestyle) 1996
European champion silver medalist (400m freestyle) in 1993 and 1995
A member of the British Atlanta Olympic squad, Graeme Smith came home with a well deserved bronze for his brilliant 1500m freestyle swim. "When I started the last length, I thought I was going to get silver, because in the sprint, I thought my long arms might snatch it - but they didn't and I had to settle with bronze by five hundredths of a second." He started swimming, when he was four and joined his local swimming club (Saracens) at the age of eight. Amazingly, he neaver won his national age groups. He trains eleven times a week, with five or six land sessions. His heroes are Kieren Perkins, Daley Thompson, Linford Christie and Adrian Moorhouse. He hopes to be swimming at Sydney in 2000 and would like to make the Commonwealth Games in 2002, which will take place in Manchester.
Name:
Graeme Smith
DOB:
31st March 1976
Height:
6ft 2ins
Weight:
13st
Club:
Stockport Metro
Coach:
Dave Calleja
Stroke:
Freestyle (400m and 1500m)
Achievements:
Olympic bronze medallist (1500m freestyle) 1996.
European Championship silver medallist (1500m freestyle) 1995.
European Junior sliver medallist (1992) and bronze medallist (1993) - 1500m freestyle.
British record holder - 1500m freestyle (LC) - 15:02.48 and 800m (LC) - 7:59.48
Helen Slatter started swimming when a lifeguard at her local pool asked her if she wanted to swim 25m. She swam the length and then the lifeguard asked her if she was a member of a swimming club. She replied 'no' and he suggested she joined one. So she joined her local club. 16 years later and Helen is - amoung other things - a member of the GBR team and a british record holder!
Name:
Helen Slatter
DOB:
7th June 1970
Height:
5ft 8.5ins
Weight:
10.5st
Club:
City of Coventry
Coach:
Nick Sellwood
Stroke:
Butterfly and Backstroke
Achievements:
Olympic 'B' finallist (100m backstroke) 1996.
GBR Olympic team member also in 1992 and 1988.
GBR European championships team member 1995, 1993, 1989 and 1987.
Winner of 12 ASA National titles.
Member of GBR team that holds the British record for 4x100m medley relay.
Paul Palmer was one of the many british swimmers, to compete in Atlanta. He came away with a silver medal, but says he has his sights set on gold in the year 2000. His most amazing moment, was when he dead-heated for 8th place in the olympic 200m freestyle event. He had to swim against Jani Sievinen of Finland "It was a really close battle," he said "and I couldn't believe it when we both got the same times.... again! In the end Jani pulled out of the second swim-off and so he went into the final. Paul trains 10 times a week, he puts his success down to a brilliant coach and supportive parents.
A member of the British Atlanta Olympic squad, Graeme Smith came home with a well deserved bronze for his brilliant 1500m freestyle swim. "When I started the last length, I thought I was going to get silver, because in the sprint, I thought my long arms might snatch it - but they didn't and I had to settle with bronze by five hundredths of a second." He started swimming, when he was four and joined his local swimming club (Saracens) at the age of eight. Amazingly, he neaver won his national age groups. He trains eleven times a week, with five or six land sessions. His heroes are Kieren Perkins, Daley Thompson, Linford Christie and Adrian Moorhouse. He hopes to be swimming at Sydney in 2000 and would like to make the Commonwealth Games in 2002, which will take place in Manchester.
Helen Slatter started swimming when a lifeguard at her local pool asked her if she wanted to swim 25m. She swam the length and then the lifeguard asked her if she was a member of a swimming club. She replied 'no' and he suggested she joined one. So she joined her local club. 16 years later and Helen is - amoung other things - a member of the GBR team and a british record holder!