Good Luck in Rio to locally trained Paralympian Andy Lewis

Andy-Lewis-GBR-webBradley Stoke Leisure Centre will be cheering on one particular athlete at next month’s Paralympics after playing a major role in his training programme.

Andy Lewis is already British, European and World paratriathlete champion, and is hoping to add to his medal haul in Rio at the games in September. For the past 18 months, he has split his training between Loughborough and Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre. Currently on sabbatical from Airbus, he lives with his wife and two children in the Forest of Dean, so the Pool has been critical in helping him maintain his swimming training while not in Loughborough.

Andy, aged 31, is competing in Rio as a through knee amputee, having lost his leg in a motorcycling accident involving a 38 tonne lorry when he was just 16.

Despite this he has gone on to learn to fly microlights and achieved his pilot’s license as well as representing Britain in para athletics.

He says: “The team at Bradley Stoke could not have been more helpful – they put a swimming lane in for me or I can take part in some of the swimming classes. They have been so supportive, I wouldn’t have been able to sustain the right level of swim training to win medals and be able to spend time at home with my family without them.”

Matthew Payne of Circadian Trust, who manage Bradley Stoke Active Leisure centre, says: “We’re excited at the thought that we might be welcoming an Olympic medal holder back to the pool. It’s been a pleasure to be able to offer Andy training facilities and he’s been an inspiration to many of our members who have met him and swum with him.

“We wish him all the luck in the world and we’ll be rooting for him in September when he competes for a medal position.”

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