George and Phoebe Kelman-Johns, both residents from Dorchester, received some of our Aspire Awards funding to help pay for their swim training costs.
2020 was going to be a big year for both George and Phoebe. Due to take place in April, both had qualified for the Tokyo Paralympic and Olympic trials respectively, and the British Championships in July. George had also been selected to represent Great Britain, for the first time, in the European Para Swimming Championships in Madeira.
Effects of the pandemic
In March 2020, the Covid-19 Pandemic and lockdown had a huge impact on their Olympic aspirations, with all swimming competitions for the year cancelled and club training suspended. Although things are quite different now, luckily for George and Phoebe, pool-based training has now re-started.
George, aged 19 said: ” Swimming has enabled me to enrol onto a University Course alongside my swim training as an International Athlete.”
Phoebe, aged 17 said: “Swimming has enabled me to travel abroad and widen my knowledge and experience. I am really looking forward to when we can start to compete again.”
Both George and Phoebe are excited to compete again in 2021.
How to apply for an Aspire Award
You can apply for an award by completing an application form. You’ll need to let us know exactly what you want the funding for, so make sure you’ve found the course you want to complete, how much the equipment you need will be, or what your community project will cost.
