British man breaks world Down syndrome swimming record

From the Suffolk Free Press in the UK:

Tom Cole has broken the world Down's Syndrome record for the 400m Individual Medley with a time of 6mins 36.81 secs, more than 10 seconds better than the previous record.

The 20-year-old from Great Waldingfield set the record time at the British Learning Disability Swimming Championships at Ponds Forge, Sheffield, UK.

And he made it a hat-trick of records at the championships by hitting new European times in the 200m backstroke and 200m Individual Medley. The old record for the 400 IM was 6.48.08, and Tom's previous best time 6.59.19. His European record times were 200 back 3.11.26, 200 IM 3.12.35.

Tom, who has been supported by Bury-based leisure trust Abbeycroft Leisure since 2006, training at both Bury and Haverhill leisure centres on a one-to-one basis with swimming instructor Pat Jason, and also with the West Suffolk Swimming Club.