Young swimmers take part in inclusive London Youth Games Para Swimming
The 2026 London Youth Games Para Swimming Competition delivered an incredible day of sportsmanship and competition on 14th May 2026, as 76 young people from across London came together at The Spa at Beckenham for a chance to compete against their peers from across London.
Participants representing 13 London boroughs showcased exceptional determination and commitment across a full schedule of contests. All participants had a disability or impairment and swimmers took part across 5 impairment categories: Mild Learning Disabilities, Severe Learning Disabilities, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impairment and Ambulant.
Races included freestyle, backstroke and 3 mixed gender team relays, with all impairment groups competing together in the final relay of the day. The stands were filled with support from parents and teammates, and true sportsmanship was on display with different boroughs supporting those in the water. Over a third of participants (35%) came from diverse backgrounds, highlighting the inclusive nature of the event.
Bromley proudly claimed Boys and Girls team Gold, winning medals across a range of categories throughout the day.
Sutton took Boys team Silver and Girls team Bronze, Wandsworth took Girls team Silver and Newham took Boys team Bronze.
Bromley MP, Liam Conlon praised the impact of the event, saying: “As a disabled MP myself, I know how important swimming is. Events like these get you out of the house, and it gives you that lift. It builds confidence and inspires teamwork. So it’s a huge credit to the London Youth Games for organising this.”
The Mayor of Bromley presented the medals – with the additional honour of presenting their home borough Bromley with their winning trophies. The Mayor of Bromley added: “Success stories like this, of young people being supported with accessibility to achieve what they’re passionate about and show what they’re made of, are wonderful.”
Niyaz, representing Bromley, shared: “I can actually communicate to others with disabilities like me, and they understand how I feel as well. It’s been really good to meet people with different disabilities.”
Louise Hills, Bromley Borough Team Organiser added: “We’re really pleased to have won gold in the boys and girls ParaGames Swimming this year. We’ve worked with Glebe School, who’ve represented Bromley this year, and they’ve done a really good job.”
The London Youth Games has long provided a platform for future careers, with alumni including the likes of Craig Moate, Ellen Gandy and Dervis Konuralp all benefitting from this competition at the start of their journeys.
This event was proudly supported by Chaotic, a UK-based competition platform dedicated to supporting families with Special Educational Needs (SEN). Chaotic partners with and sponsors a wide range of community organisations, schools and charities that share its mission. With a growing community of over 76,000 members, 90% of which have an SEN Relation. Chaotic is dedicated to providing spaces for families facing similar challenges. For founder Shana Kennedy, this mission is personal as her son Reyon is autistic. Together, London Youth Games and Chaotic Community are working to make sport more inclusive for everyone and help even more SEN children to experience the transformative benefits of sports and physical activity.
The Games remain dedicated to ensuring that every young person in London has access to inclusive and empowering sporting and physical activity experiences. The 2026 ParaGames Swimming Competition highlighted the power of sport to build confidence, resilience, and community.
The event was brilliantly supported by the Borough Team Organisers, Team Managers, parents and volunteers, whose support ensured a memorable experience for all involved.
The London Youth Games Foundation supports more than 10,000 young people across London each year, delivering opportunities across 37 sports for all 32 boroughs & the City of London.