James Crisp

James Crisp

Personal information
Born	11 October 1982 Nottingham
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	70 kg (150 lb)
Sport
Country	United Kingdom
Sport	Paralympic swimming
Club	City of Sheffield
Coached by	Russ Barber
Medal record Paralympic Games 2000 Sydney 100 m backstroke (S9) 2000 Sydney 200 m individual medley (SM9) 2000 Sydney 4x100 m freestyle relay (34pts) 2000 Sydney 100 m butterfly (S9) 2000 Sydney 4x100 m medley relay (34pts) 2004 Athens 400 m freestyle (S9) 2004 Athens 100 m backstroke (S9) 2004 Athens 100 m breaststroke (SB8) 2012 London 100 m backstroke (S9) 2000 Sydney 100 m freestyle (S9) 2000 Sydney 400 m freestyle (S9) 2004 Athens 200 m individual medley (SM9) IPC Swimming World Championships 1998 Christchurch 100 m backstroke (S9) 1998 Christchurch 200 m individual medley (SM9) 2002 Mar del Plata 400 m freestyle (S9) 2002 Mar del Plata 100 m backstroke (S9) 2002 Mar del Plata 100 m breaststroke (SB8) 2002 Mar del Plata 200 m individual medley (SM9) 2002 Mar del Plata 4x100 m medley relay (34pts) 2006 Durban 400 m freestyle (S9) 2006 Durban 4x100 m medley relay (34pts) 2010 Eindhoven 100 m backstroke (S9) 2015 Glasgow 100 m backstroke (S9) 1998 Christchurch 400 m freestyle (S9) 2002 Mar del Plata 100 m butterfly (S9) 2002 Mar del Plata 400 m freestyle (S9) 2006 Durban 200 m individual medley (SM9) 2006 Durban 100 m backstroke (S9) 2010 Eindhoven 400 m freestyle (S9)

James Crisp (born 11 October 1982) is a British swimmer. He has won gold medals in the Paralympic Games as well as the IPC world and European championships, breaking numerous records in the process. He competes in S9 classification events after having contracted polio as a child.

Personal life

Crisp was born on 11 October 1982 in Nottingham.^[1] He contracted polio as a child through vaccination and was encouraged to take up swimming as a form of physiotherapy.^[2][3] He moved to Sheffield to study at university and became a member of the City of Sheffield Swim Squad (COSSS), training at Ponds Forge.^[2][4]

Swimming career

Crisp competes in S9 swimming events and has won medals in all the different competitive swimming strokes.^[4][5] He holds a number of British and European records across a range of different strokes and lengths. He has won world championship titles in the freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, and the individual medley as well as being part of the 2002 championship-winning 4x100 m relay team.^[1]

Paralympic Games

To date Crisp has won twelve Paralympic medals. Seven of the medals were awarded at the 2000 Summer Paralympics including individual golds in the 100 m backstroke and the 200 m individual medley.^[1] He was also part of the victorious 4x100 m freestyle relay team alongside Jody Cundy, Giles Long, David Roberts, Matt Walker and Marc Woods.^[1][6] At the 2004 Games Crisp won four individual medals, including three silvers, with all four events being in different stroke styles.^[1][5]

In what he has described as the most difficult time of his 14-year career Crisp missed out on the 2008 Games due to a shoulder injury.^[7]

IPC World and European championships

Crisp has achieved significant success in the IPC Swimming World Championships, winning sixteen medals. He claimed two golds in 1998, five in 2002, and one in 2006. He has also seen many victories in the European Championships, winning three golds in 1999, four in 2001, and one in 2011. He has been on the podium thirteen times at the European events.^[1][5]

References

1. "James Crisp". Swimming.org. British Swimming & The ASA. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
2. James Crisp Interview at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre. Sheffield International Venues. 29 June 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
3. Ward, Victoria (31 August 2012). "Hynd brother's sharing podium makes Paralympic history". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group Limited. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
4. "Meet The Team - James Crisp". Swimming.org. British Swimming & The ASA. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
5. "James Crisp". British Paralympic Association. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
6. "Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games Swimming Men's 4x100 m Freestyle 34 pts". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
7. "James Crisp". Channel 4. Retrieved 31 August 2012.