Athlete Profile

Events

2010 IPC World Championships, Netherlands

• Gold 100m Breaststroke 01:11.08
• Gold 200m Freestyle 02:02.18

2009 IPC European Swimming Championships, Iceland

• Gold 100m Breaststroke 01:10.47
• Gold 200m Individual medley 02:18.74
• Gold 100m Freestyle 00:55.99

2009 INAS-FID Global Games, Czech Republic

• Gold 50m Breaststroke 00:33.07
• Gold 200m Breaststroke 02:36.13
• Gold 4 x 100m Medley Relay 04:26.02 (WR)
• Gold 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 08:46.30
• Silver 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 01:47.29
• Silver 200m Individual Medley 02:24.01
• Silver 400m Individual Medley 05:09.65
• Bronze 100m Breaststroke 01:16.01
• Bronze 4 x 50m Medley Relay 02:07.06

2008 INAS-FID European Championships, Poland

• Gold 50m Breaststroke 00:32.70
• Gold 100m Breaststroke 01:13.55
• Gold 200m Breaststroke 02:37.30
• Gold 200m Individual Medley 02:24.59
• Gold 400m Individual Medley 05:11.46
• Gold 200m Freestyle 02:06.66
• Gold 4 x 50m Medley Relay 02:03.36
• Gold 4 x 100m Medley Relay 04:38.45
• Gold 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 01:49.22
• Gold 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 04:00.36
• Gold 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 08:44.92 (WR)

2007 INAS-FID World Championships, Belgium

• Gold 100m Breaststroke 01:11.24
• Gold 200m Breaststroke 02:37.57
• Gold 200m Individual Medley 02:22.32
• Gold 400m Individual Medley 05:09.07
• Gold 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 01:49.09
• Gold 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 04:02.89
• Gold 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 08:47.51 (WR)
• Silver 200m Freestyle 02:08.60
• Silver 4 x 50m Medley Relay 02:04.43
• Silver 4 x 100m Medley Relay 04:38.99
• Bronze 400m Freestyle 04:43.64

2005 INAS-FID World Championships, Czech Republic

• Gold 100m Breaststroke 01:15.57
• Gold 200m Breaststroke 02:42.63
• Gold 200m Individual Medley 02:25.13
• Gold 400m Individual Medley 05:14.52
• Gold 4 x 100m Medley Relay 04:35.09
• Silver 50m Breaststroke 00:34.64
• Silver 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 01:51.12
• Bronze 1500m Freestyle 19:30.14
• Bronze 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 04:13.14

Records Held

400m Freestyle S/C	S14	Llandudno	2010	04:20.8	BR
4 x 100m Medley Relay L/C	S14	Czech Republic	2009	04:26.0	WR
100m Breaststroke S/C	SB14	Sheffield	2009	01:08.1	BR
50m Breaststroke L/C	SB14	Iceland	2009	00:32.3	BR
100m Breaststroke L/C	SB14	Iceland	2009	01:10.5	BR
200m Breaststroke L/C	SB14	Swansea	2009	02:36.5	BR
200m Individual Medley L/C	SM14	Iceland	2009	02:18.7	BR
200m Breaststroke S/C	S14	Sheffield	2008	02:32.1	WR
400m Individual Medley S/C	SM14	Sheffield	2008	04:56.2	WR
4 x 200m Freestyle Relay L/C	S14	Poland	2008	08:44.9	WR
4 x 200m Freestyle Relay L/C	S14	Belgium	2007	08:47.5	WR
50m Breaststroke S/C	S14	Sheffield	2007	00:32.4	BR
100m Breaststroke S/C	S14	Sheffield	2007	01:10.4	BR
200m Breaststroke S/C	SB14	Manchester	2007	02:31.3	BR
200m Freestyle S/C	S14	Manchester	2007	02:31.3	BR
200m Individual Medley S/C	S14	Sheffield	2007	02:20.6	BR
400m Individual Medley L/C	S14	Sheffield	2007	05:07.6	BR
50m Breaststroke L/C	S14	Sheffield	2006	00:33.6	BR
100m Breaststroke L/C	S14	Sheffield	2006	01:11.4	BR
200m Breaststroke	S14	Sheffield	2006	02:38.8	BR

Dan began his love of swimming at the tender age of 4, largely due to the family home being located close to a canal. His impressive swimming career started to take shape at age 9 when he joined his local club Marple, moving later to the Stockport Metro club.

At just 12, Dan was selected to the Cheshire County Team where he competed for a number of years and was also selected for the English Schools National Team. Dan was just 14 when he was first selected to the UKSA GB Team - he was the youngest member of the squad and was not expecting himself to do very well. However he exceeded his and everyone's expectations by winning various medals including two gold. Since then his performances have gone from strength to strength, illustrated by his selection to the British Swimming GB Team competing at the 2009 IPC European Swimming Championships in Iceland and 2010 IPC World Championships, Netherlands, where he was crowned double World Champion.

Dan's consistent gold medal performances have pushed him, sometimes unwillingly into the limelight and means he is no stranger to the podium, awards dinners, presentations and speaking about his sport. One of his lasting memories from many of the Awards presentations is its menu and tendency to in his words "always have on it the great chicken dinner!"

Dan has successfully completed his college studies in BTEC in Sport and as a result of his determination and success in his studies, was nominated by his personal tutor for the "Governors Award", progressing to and winning the "North West Learners Awards".

Although managing a rigorous training and competition schedule, Dan still finds time to teach swimming to young people and coaches the Junior Coaching Squad at Stockport Metro. He is a keen Network Scout leader, loves surfing and is also keen track cyclist. He has also passed his driving test and now twice a day drives himself to training with the assistance of his trusty "sat nav".

Dan is well known for his sporting talent, positive attitude despite the difficulties created in recent years by the IPC ban on competitors with learning disability, his mentoring and support of new Team members and of course for his great sense of humour!

Career's highlight

"It has to be winning the 200m freestyle event at the IPC World Championships 2010 in Eindhoven", says Dan. "A lot of hard work went into the training process, but I thought I might not earn a medal in the event, let alone gold".

Secrets of Success

Working hard, training every day and, most importantly, enjoying it. It is easy to enjoy an intensive training schedule when I'm working with my favourite coach Mick Massey. Alongside the physical side of swimming, keeping focused and motivated have been crucial parts of my successes. There is always the next competition to work towards and new goals to achieve, you can't just sit back and enjoy your latest success or you won't have any others.

Advice to Young Athletes Starting Out

Work hard and it will pay off in the end. Enjoy your swimming and work closely with your coach. If things are not working for you speak to him/her about it.

Relaxation and Free time

I watch my TV, listen to music, use "Facebook". I enjoy meeting friends and spending time with my girlfriend. If time allows and the weather is good my weekends are spent surfing with friends in Wales. At least once a year I go surfing in Cornwall and that allows to meet my best mate in swimming - Ben Procter.

Role Model

It's got to be fellow swimmer Steve Parry. I got to know him when he trained at Stockport Metro before the Athens Olympics. I really like his attitude to winning. I hope I am as modest as he is."

Also my Mum and Dad, who have been incredibly devoted all this time. For many years their work day had to start as early as 5am to drive me to the local swimming club for training. They are always there at my competitions and are my most active supporters!

Favourite food and favourite kind of music

My favourite meal is breakfast with roast ham, mushrooms and Weetabix. I also love pasta. I like to listen to R&B and nearly all other types of music (except classical).

Person he would like to meet?

Lewis Hamilton because he might let me drive his F1 car!

What changes would he like to see in sport?

The biggest have already been made. Particularly the one regarding swimsuits: wearing the same type of suit means that winning or losing is down to the swimming not the suit. Positive changes have also come from IPC making their rules the same as FINA rules which means that there is no more confusion about whether I am allowed to do a fly kick in the breaststroke pull out. I used to get very confused and was disqualified when I did it.

The most important change is the fact that the IPC ban has been lifted and athletes with learning disability are allowed to compete at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Future ambitions

The biggest ambition - to win gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. To be involved with the swimming after the end of my professional swimming career - I would love to work as a coach. Maybe one day I'll get married, have children and, simply, be happy.

Other Achievements

• Selected to compete in the first IPC event to include swimmers with learning disability since the Paralympic ban: European Championships 2009, Reykjavik, Iceland and World Championships 2010, Eindhoven, Netherlands
• Selected to UKSA G.B. Team 2004, 05, 06,07,08,09 for the Global Games
• 2009 Guest presenter at the RADAR people of the Year Awards
• 2008 Invited by Cheshire Council to raise the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic flag in the borough as part of the 2012 handover of the Games from Beijing to London
• Young Person of the Year - Cheshire & Warrington Sports Partnership
• Finalist - BBC Northwest Sports Personality of the Year Awards (2008)
• Sports Personality of the Year - Stockport (2008)
• Sports Disability Personality of the Year - Greater Manchester (2008)
• ASA Young Disabled Personality of the Year (Splash Award) - 2004