The Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) has today announced Western Australian athletes Katherine Downie and Jeremy McClure onto the Australian Swimming Team for the 2012 London Paralympics.

The WA duo will form part of the 35-strong Australian Swimming Team in London, with Downie to make her Paralympic debut, whilst McClure will swim at a third Games, having also competed in Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008).

Having won 354 Paralympic medals in swimming – 101 gold, 133 silver and 120 bronze since it was introduced at the first Paralympic Games in Rome 1960 – swimming is one of Australia’s most successful sports at the Paralympics, second only to athletics in medals.

Australian Paralympic Committee CEO and 2012 Team Chef de Mission Jason Hellwig believes the team selected for London will continue Australia’s proud tradition of success in the pool.

"Australians love watching Australians do well in the pool and London will be no different,” Mr Hellwig said.

"We are sending a strong swim team and although the competition for medals will be tougher than ever, I have no doubt that members of this team can make their presence felt.”

Downie and McClure’s selection in the swimming team finalizes WA’s officially selected numbers for the 2012 London Paralympics to 15.

Full biographies can be found on the APC website:

Katherine Downie - http://www.paralympic.org.au/team/katherine-downie

Jeremy McClure - http://www.paralympic.org.au/team/jeremy-mcclure