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Port Elizabeth Swimmer off to defend Paralympic gold in London

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Port Elizabeth Paralympic swimmer Kevin Paul has been named in SASCOC’s team for the London Paralympics in August. The announcement was made at Olympic House in Johannesburg on Wednesday morning.

20-year-old Paul will be swimming in the 50 and 100 metre free style, the 200 IM and the 100 metre breastroke in London.

He is the reigning 100 metre breastroke champion, having won gold in Beijing in 2008 while still at Grey High School.

Kevin flies out to Germany on Saturday where he hopes to also qualify to race the 400 metre freestyle at the Paralympics.

He said being named on the team was the last hurdle he and all the other team members had faced and now that it was official, he could concentrate solely on his swimming.

Kevin said he now had the chance to represent Port Elizabeth and South Africa again at a paralympics and that it was a very special feeling knowing he is on the team. I’m very honoured and privileged to be able to fly the South African flag for my family and friends,” he said.  “I’ve got to make the most of this opportunity because many people dream of something like this and now I’ve got it twice (after Beijing 2008). I’m living my dream and need to do the best I can to make South Africa proud.”

Kevin Paul
Action photographs of Kevin Paul (courtesy of Anesh Debiky) taken at the SA Champs and Olympic trials in Durban in March 2012. Kevin relaxes at home in Port Elizabeth with his 2008 Beijing Paralympics gold medal won in the 100 metre breastroke.
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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.