Millward receives final Paralympic confirmation (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Millward receives final Paralympic confirmation

1:12pm Thursday 1st May 2008

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Stephanie Millward has had her place the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games confirmed by the GB team - and is celebrating with Pepsi.

The 26-year-old Chippenham swimmer, from Cepen Park South, was expected to get the nod but has finally saw he place on the squad cemented on the British Swimming website this morning.

But, because of her training she is unable to celebrate properly - although is not holding back on the soft drinks.

"I've got some Pepsi, that's almost like Pino Grigio," joked Millward, who suffers from MS.

"It's a bit depressing not being able to celebrate with a drink but people can still buy me some wine, or champagne will be fine."

Millward is part of a 36 men and women team and is among 15 swimmers who will make their Paralympic debut.

In the 2004 games in Athens Team GB finished top of the medal pile with 52 medals, including 16 golds, but Millward isn't worried about the pressure.

She already holds two European records in the 100m backstroke and the 100m butterfly.

"I think we all know what we have to do but we are just excited to be going," she said.

Today's confirmation caps a remarkable comeback for Millward who only started swimming again seven months ago after battling MS.

She had been on course to qualify for the Sydney games in 2000 but was diagnosed with the disease in late 1999.

"I'm thrilled, it's just proof I am definitely going," she said.

"I makes me think I must be quite good.

"When I was swimming before I was confident and now I am using that confidence to realise the dream."

British Swimming national performance director Tim Reddish said: "The team has a good mix of youth and experience which will benefit all of our athletes, coaches and support staff.

"The average age of this squad is younger than the one that competed in Athens and this demonstrates that the systems and programmes that we have in place are working well."Our athletes and their coaches now need to focus upon their preparations for Beijing to continue improving and if they succeed in this I can see them being able to get in the hunt for medals at the Beijing Paralympic Games."

ParalympicsGB chief executive Phil Lane, added: "Swimming has traditionally been one of the most successful Paralympic sports in terms of medals at previous Games."

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