Team GB pin Para World Championship hopes on New Milton's Tai and Jones

NEW MILTON’S Alice Tai and Mikey Jones are part of a strong British squad heading to the London 2019 World Para Swimming Allianz Championships, taking place from 9-15th September at the London Aquatics Centre, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Tai will be one to watch at this year’s championships as she competes across a total of eight events during the seven-day competition.

Having claimed numerous Paralympic Games, world championships and European championships gold medals, the New Milton swimmer will be looking to add additional world championships gold medals to her growing collection.

Among the six individual events Tai is due to compete in, she is the world record holder in three - 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle and 100m backstroke.

Fellow New Milton resident Mikey Jones will be hoping to add a world championship gold to the Paralympic gold he claimed in the 400m freestyle at the Rio Paralympics in 2016.

Tai and Jones are two of 24 British athletes who have been selected to represent Great Britain at the world championships, the largest disability swimming competition outside of the Paralympic Games, which will see around 600 swimmers from 60 countries compete over the seven days.

Commenting on the British team heading to the championships, British Swimming Head Coach, Rob Aubry, said: “We have selected a team that will not just make finals, but challenge for medals in front of a home crowd. There’s always an extra buzz when we compete in London.”

“These championships are a key event for us ahead of Tokyo 2020. We’ve selected a squad that includes a blend of youth and experience to assist all our swimmers in their continued development towards Paralympic success next year.”