Two of Barnet Copthall swimmers are getting ready to compete in the 2016 Olympic Games which start in Rio this Friday (August 5, 2016.)
Thirteen-year-old Gaurika Singh from Mill Hill and seventeen-year-old Haris Bandey from East Finchley will be competing for their home nations of Nepal and Pakistan respectively.
Haris is taking part in the 400m Freestyle event on August 6th while Gaurika who is also the youngest competitor at this year’s Olympics, races in the 100m Backstroke the following day.
Both Barnet residents, Gaurika and Haris learnt to swim at Barnet Copthall at a very young age and have trained at the club for the majority of their young lives.
Barnet Copthall swimming club, which was originally established in 1978, has had Olympic or Paralympic representation at every Olympic Games since 1980 games in Moscow.
Rhys Gormley, Headcoach of the Copthall swimming club said:
“We welcome the Council’s plans for the new Copthall leisure centre, which will be on the site of our current training facilities and include a new 25m competition pool.
“We are looking forward to getting the new brilliant facility built at Copthall so we can train the next generation of Olympians. We wish Gaurika and Haris every success in Rio this summer!”
Councillor Sachin Rajput, Chairman of the Adults and Safeguarding committee and Lead for Sport and Physical Activity said:
“It’s great to see Barnet residents making it all the way to Rio to compete in the Olympics - the pinnacle for so many sports, including swimming.
“We congratulate Gaurika and Haris on their fantastic achievement in representing their home countries at the Games, and we wish them both the very best of luck.”