Seven swimmers were among the 51 athletes to receive Isle of Man Sport Aid scholarships in the 2015-2016 season, including two who were included in the newly-created Cavendish Scholarship.
The recipients:
- Service Tech Ltd Scholarship: Guy Davies
- Cavendish Scholarship: Alex Bregazzi, Brody Hewison
- Sport Aid: Charlotte Atkinson, Ben Grainger, Emma Hodgson, Laura Kinley
Swimming was the biggest beneficiary of the newly-formed Cavendish Scholarship, which is sponsored by one of the Isle of Man’s greatest sports heroes, cyclist Mark Cavendish.
The funding is key for the British Crown dependency of 85,000 inhabitants. Just as nearly every other part of the United Kingdom has seen an explosion of swimming success during this decade, swimming has seen more steady, but significant, progression for Mann. The country’s first ever medals at the Commonwealth Youth Games in any sport were won by swimmer Grant Halsall in 2011.
At the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games, its citizens compete independently of the broader British Swimming team to which they must vie for spots at World Championships and Olympic Games.
There is some talent among the above group, and especially on the female side, including 12-year old Emma Hodgson, who has already broken a minute in the 100 free in short course meters.
18-year old Laura Kinley is an impressive young breaststroke talent, with long course bests of 31.97, 1:10.90. and 2:34.05 over 50, 100, and 200 meters, respectively.
The brightest star is another teenager, Charlotte Atkinson, who qualified for the A-Final at last year’s British Gas Championships and has been as fast as 58.68 in the 100 fly in long course in her career.
Bregazzi, Davies, Atkinson, and Kinley all represented the country at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
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