Louise Watkin

Sport:

Swimming

Associations with Surrey:

• Resides in Merstham
• Trains at the Reigate & Redhill Swimming Club

Biography

Louise Watkin was born in Stockholm, Sweden in 1992 with an upper limb deficiency and is missing her left hand. Her family moved to the UK in 1996.

Louise's first major competition was at the 2006 World Swimming Championships in Durban, South Africa. Being the youngest member of the Great Britain swimming team, aged just 14 years, Louise went on to set the British records in the 100 and 400 metre freestyle races at the Paralympic World Cup in Manchester.

Her most notable performances were at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China. While only 16 years old, Louise won an impressive tally of three Bronze medals and one Silver.

Having won further medals since and with years of competing ahead of her, Louise has her sights set on London 2012. Louise currently studies at the University of Manchester and visits family in Surrey regularly.

Paralympic achievements:

2008 Beijing, China

• Silver - 100m Freestyle
• Bronze - 50m Freestyle
• Bronze - 100m Breaststroke
• Bronze - 200m Individual medley

Other Achievements

• 2006: DSE South East Sports Person
• 2010: Ranked no 1 in the world in 50m freestyle
• 2010: World Championships, Netherlands. World Champion in the 50m freestyle event. Silver medals in the 200m IM,100m breaststroke, and the 4x100m freestyle relay events. Bronze Medal in the 100m Freestyle event.
• European record holder for 50m freestyle (29.21 seconds),and the 100m freestyle (1 min 03.07 seconds).