Trowbridge swimmer heads to World Down's Syndrome finals

A 22-year-old man is setting his sights on winning a medal at the World Down's Syndrome Swimming and Artistic Championships.

Dorian Williams, from Trowbridge Amateur Swimming Club in Wiltshire, will take part in the event in Turkey.

However, his family needs to pay for the trip, so a crowd-funder has been set up to help get him there.

Mr Williams, who started swimming aged five, said: "I'm really excited. I'm going to try my very best."

Competitors at the event, which will take place in Antalya in March, do not get their own funding so Mr Williams and his family have to cover the cost of flights, pool hire, kit and accommodation.

Katrina Hodge said her son had faced "a lot of challenges" when he first started swimming.

"I had to get in the pool with him every session and that went on for about a year until he could float," she said.

Ms Hodge said she encouraged her son into swimming for safety and exercise but the determination to keep going had all come from him.

"He's developed a lot because he's coming in, tries hard and the sky's the limit," she added.

She said swimming at the club in Trowbridge has also helped her son make friends and the coaches have been really patient with him.

"They put him in with the other swimmers so he's part of the club, he's not isolated or on his own.

"You can achieve anything when you've got that support," she added.

Mr Williams, who won two bronze medals at the British Down's Syndrome Swimming Championships last year, said his favourite event was the freestyle.

Marc Bolwell, vice chairman of Trowbridge amateur swimming club, told BBC Radio Wiltshire: "Dorian's success is brilliant. We're very proud of him. He's a character within the club."

"We had a swimmer go to the European Championships last year but this is the first time since the Olympics in 2016 that we've had someone go to a world championships."

Ms Hodge said: "Whatever he does we'll be proud of him because it's an achievement.

"Wherever you finish it's just being part of something that's really tremendous."

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