Trio on shortlist for Senior Disabled Sportsperson of the Year

Two athletes and a table tennis player are in the running to be named Swansea’s Senior Disabled Sportsperson of the Year.

John Andrew Hayes, James Ledger and Paul Karabardak have all made the shortlist for the honour at the annual Swansea Sports Awards.

The awards, which have been organised by Swansea Council’s Development and Outreach team for the last 17 years, are being held on Thursday February 25 at the Brangwyn Hall.

John, who has severe learning impairments, discovered a love for running at Birchgrove Comprehensive School. His achievements include gold medals in the 100 metres and 200 metres at last year’s European Championships in Germany.

James, who has a visual impairment, hopes to compete at long jump in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. His achievements last year included first place finishes in the Somerset County Championships and the British Athletics Jumps and Throws Fest.

Paul, who had a stroke at the age of 10, won individual bronze and team silver at 2015’s European Table Tennis Championships in Denmark. He’s now hoping to medal in this year’s Paralympic Games in Rio.

Cllr Mark Child, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Healthy City and Wellbeing, said: “The calibre of the shortlist for this year’s Senior Disabled Sportsperson of the Year award is outstanding. John, James and Paul’s achievements all merit recognition, so picking a winner from the three will be a very tough job.

“But this is just one of 12 categories that will make next month’s awards evening a night to remember for sport in Swansea. As well as celebrating our elite sportspeople, awards will also be handed out to top performing schools, volunteers and coaches, which makes sure nobody from our sporting community is missed out.”

Other categories include overall sportsperson of the year, primary school team of the year and volunteer of the year.

Swimmers Chloe Davies and Keiran Moruzzi Jones are on the shortlist for the junior disabled sportsperson of the year award.

Chloe, a member of the Swansea Aquatics Club and one of the youngest athletes in the British team at the 2012 Paralympics, set three world records last year in the S14 400-metre freestyle, the 800-metre freestyle and the 200-metre backstroke.

Keiran, a Swansea Stingrays member who also plays football for the Swansea Bravehearts, recently secured his place at the 2017 Special Olympics in Sheffield, having won last year’s Penlan disabled swimming meet in the 25-metre front crawl.

Visit www.swansea.gov.uk/sportsawards to see a full list of categories and all shortlisted nominees.

Go to www.ticketsource.co.uk/brangwynhall to buy tickets for the evening.