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You are here: CWG 2010 New Delhi Games Davies, Roberts lead Welsh swim team for 2010 Commonwealth Games

Davies, Roberts lead Welsh swim team for 2010 Commonwealth Games

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David Davies, David Roberts and Jazz Carlin are among the 16 swimmers named today in what has been described as Wales' strongest ever swim squad to be sent to a Commonwealth Games.

The swimmers who have booked their flights to Delhi are: Jazmin Carlin, David Davies, Georgia Davies, Thomas Haffield, Georgia Holderness, Ieuan Lloyd, Sara Lougher, Marco Loughran, Jemma Lowe, Sian Morgan, Jennifer Oldham, David Roberts, Danielle Stirrat, Alys Thomas, Lowri Tynan

Coaches - Martyn Woodroffe, David Haller, Bud McAllister, Stuart McNarry
Team Manager - Jenny Shaw

Four years ago in Melbourne, Team Wales took three medals from the pool. David Davies thrilled the Welsh nation when he stormed to gold in the 1500m freestyle and bronze in the 400m freestyle: "I'm really looking forward to Delhi. It's the big target for me this year and I'm looking forward to defending my title. It's certainly going to be tough and Canada's Ryan Cochrane will be the one to watch. It's a pretty special feeling to represent Wales and there's nothing quite like the Commonwealth Games. The team spirit within the Welsh camp in Melbourne was really motivating."

Paralympic legend David Roberts added to the Melbourne medal tally with bronze in the 100m freestyle. Having equalled Tanni Grey Thompson's Paralympic gold medal haul, the Pontypridd talent has now amassed an extraordinary trophy cabinet and is looking to complete a Commonwealth hat-trick after picking up bronze medals in Melbourne 2006 and Manchester 2002.

"I'm really happy to be given the chance to represent Wales. It will definitely be the toughest challenge of my career as I will be swimming against a category less disabled than myself in Delhi. By rights I shouldn't really be quick enough to compete against S8 swimmers and this will be a first as the medals will be decided on first touch, rather than racing against the world record time for our category.

"After winning the 100m freestyle at the World Champs, I am very happy with my progress only two years out from the start of the London 2012 Games. It has been a very challenging 12 months with illness and injury but it's great to be back competing."

Beijing Olympians Jazz Carlin and Tom Haffield will also feature in India. Carlin has enjoyed an incredible 18 months. The Swansea-based swimmer raced alongside Jo Jackson and Rebecca Adlington to help the Great Britain 4x200m Freestyle team win bronze at the 2009 World Championships in Rome.

Fifteen-year-old Sian Morgan is the youngest member of the team and, like nine of the selected swimmers, is making her Commonwealth debut. The team features a number of bright prospects including brother and sister Robert and Georgia Holderness.

Performance Manager Martyn Woodroffe is confident that the team will deliver in Delhi: "This is Wales' strongest ever swim team to be fielded at a Commonwealth Games. As we are able to call on Olympic and Paralympic medallists, we are in a strong position. As well as experienced swimmers, we also have names to note for the future. The team is certainly the most professional group of swimmers and staff I have worked with - all of whom are setting extremely high standards and targets."

Team Wales Chef de Mission, Chris Jenkins, said: "We are very excited to welcome on board our swimmers - we have a great mix of youth and experience and we are confident that this is a high calibre team. We envisage that Team Wales will send almost 200 athletes to Delhi with further announcements due to be made for tennis and rugby sevens."