Great Britain swimmer Jessica-Jane Applegate MBE becomes an ambassador for World Intellectual Impairment Sport

World Intellectual Impairment Sport is delighted to announce that Great British international para-swimmer, Jessica-Jane Applegate MBE, has agreed to become an ambassador for the organisation.

Jessica-Jane is an international GB para-swimmer who competes in the S14 (intellectual disability) classification. Her rapid progress to success started in 2011 when, aged 15, she won bronze in the 50m freestyle competition at the British International Disability Championships. Twelve months later she was selected for the London 2012 Paralympic Games – where she won gold for the 200m freestyle event in a new Paralympic and British record.

As Great Britain’s only gold-medallist in the S14 classification at the Games, Jessica was awarded an MBE in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to swimming. Jessica-Jane has continued to build on this success – accumulating more than 75 new British Swimming records and recently being awarded ‘Para-athlete of the Year’ at the 2015 British Swimming Awards.

Speaking about her new role, Jessica-Jane said: “I am very excited to become an Ambassador for World Intellectual Impairment Sport. World Intellectual Impairment Sport make it possible for people with an intellectual disability to be able to compete at an international level. They open up the pathway to enable athletes like myself to compete on the international stage against the best ID athletes in the world. I have no doubt this has helped me become the paralympic athlete I am today. I also think it is very important to support everyone that supports you. Their work as a charity is massively important to athletes at every level. Please join me in supporting them.”

Nick Parr, World Intellectual Impairment Sport Executive Director added “With such a busy training and competition schedule to maintain, we are really honoured that Jessica-Jane has accepted this role. World Intellectual Impairment Sport has ambitious plans to support more athletes in more nations, and – through her incredible performances – Jessica-Jane is an inspiration to all athletes with an intellectual disability. Her support for World Intellectual Impairment Sport will help us achieve our mission – particularly with the Rio Paralympic Games less than a year away – inspiring a new generation of athletes to get involved”.