July 29, 2015 11.00 am This story is over 104 months old

Paralympic gold medalist to make a splash at Lincoln shopping centre

Special visit: Fans and aspiring athletes will get the chance to meet Paralympic gold medalist James Crisp when he visits Lincoln.
British Paralympic swimmer James Crisp. Photo: Paralympics GB

Fans and aspiring athletes will get the chance to meet Paralympic gold medalist James Crisp when he makes a special visit to Lincoln in August.

The successful swimmer will be making a stop at the Waterside Shopping Centre on Lincoln High Street on August 4 as part of British Polio Month.

The 32-year-old sport star, who is a British Polio Fellowship ambassador, will be at the shopping centre on behalf of the Lincolnshire branch between 11.30am and 3.30pm.

James will be at hand to meet fans and sign autographs, and he’ll also be bringing along some of the medals he’s won during his successful swimming career.

With over 50 major international wins, three gold medals in the Sydney Paralympics and silver medals at 2012’s London Paralympics, James works closely with the British Polio Fellowship, a charity dedicated to helping, supporting and empowering those in the UK living with the effects of polio and Post Polio Syndrome (PPS.)

James said: “Contracting polio was obviously a traumatic experience for my parents, but one which I was luckily too young to really understand at the time.

“However, it has made me the person I am today and it’s the reason I am part of the British Paralympics Squad.

“I am a keen supporter of The British Polio Fellowship; working to raise money for the charity through my sponsors and supporters, in order to help others like me achieve their dreams and make the most of their abilities, not focus on their disabilities.”

Alongside James will be members of the Lincolnshire British Polio Fellowship Branch, who will join the Paralympian in greeting swimming and sporting fans visiting the centre.

Chantelle Henderson, Marketing Coordinator at Waterside Shopping, commented: “It’s an honour to welcome James Crisp to Waterside! The work they do for people with polio is absolutely vital, and we’re excited to have him and members of the Lincolnshire British Polio Fellowship branch visit us!”