Special Olympics City of Hull athlete Angus Leckonby recently experienced the blue ribband event in the British domestic swimming calendar by qualifying for the Speedo Aquatics GB Swimming Championships at the London Aquatics Centre.
Competing in the 400m Freestyle Mixed Class, Angus joined some of the world’s biggest names in swimming in the principal qualification event for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
Angus joined the Special Olympics Great Britain movement in 2014, initially at the City of York club which he represented in the 2017 National Summer Games in Sheffield. He moved to the City of Hull club, due to training logistics, and he also swims for Scarborough Swimming Club.
“Angus has been on a tremendous journey,” said his Dad Matthew Leckonby. “He’s worked very hard and earned the right to compete and represent his club alongside the world class field of swimmers who we hope to see winning gold in Paris later this summer.
“The journey all started with Special Olympics GB and we’re still very active members, training with Special Olympics City of Hull each week and getting involved as volunteers at the Galas across the country.
“Angus has got to such a high level in swimming and it’s up to him as to whether he wants to continue that or look at other sports. We’ve done a lot of Open Water swimming since lockdown and he’s also now doing a bit of running and cycling with a triathlon club. However, we know that a Special Olympics World Games would be a dream for him, so who knows what could happen for Chile in 2027. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.”