A dedicated swimmer from North Yorkshire, Jake Vicars, has realised a long-held ambition by securing a Bronze medal for Team GB at the prestigious European Down Syndrome Swimming Championships.
Jake's success is being celebrated by The Wilf Ward Family Trust, the organisation that supports him in Pickering, they say that they are "incredibly proud of Jake’s achievement", which came in the T21 200m Butterfly event.
The European Down Syndrome Swimming Championships were hosted by the Portuguese Swimming Federation (FPN) in Albufeira, Portugal. The competition, a short course event, featured 103 swimmers representing 17 countries. Great Britain was highly successful at the championships, being named the winning team overall.
At 30 years old, Jake claimed third place in the competitive final, representing Great Britain (GBR). Jake’s journey to the podium has been marked by commitment; he trains five times a week and has been a valued member of Down Syndrome Swimming GB since 2016. Winning a medal at a major international competition had always been his dream, and through his determination, that dream finally came true this year.
His ambition was supported by The Wilf Ward Family Trust’s Dream Big funding initiative. This programme is specifically designed to empower people with learning disabilities and autism to pursue their goals, regardless of their size. The Trust itself provides high-quality care and support for people with learning disabilities, complex needs, and autism across Yorkshire and the North East.
Louise Crampton, Strategic Lead for Involvement and Co-Production for The Wilf Ward Family Trust, emphasised the powerful message behind Jake’s success.
“We are so incredibly proud of Jake and everything he has accomplished, his dedication, commitment, and belief in himself are truly inspiring”.
Louise highlighted that Jake’s success resonates far beyond the pool. “Jake isn’t just part of a community - he represents one,” she said. She hailed him as “a fantastic role model for people with learning disabilities and a shining example of what can be achieved with the right support”. Furthermore, Louise Crampton believes that Jake is “not only achieving his dreams - he’s showing others what’s possible when people are supported to follow theirs”.
Despite having just secured his Bronze medal, Jake is already focused on his next challenge, and The Wilf Ward Family Trust confirmed they “will continue to be there to cheer him on”.
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