Brogan goes for gold

STAR of the future . . . Brogan Fox who is making a name for himself in the world of swimming.

A TALENTED teenager who was born with a muscle-wasting condition, is making a big splash in the world of disability swimming.

Brogan Fox (14), from Moorside, was spotted by Oldham Community Leisure coach Lee Holland in a public swimming session in April.

Now the teenager, who uses a wheelchair, has been hailed a potential paralympian with the 2016 sporting showcase in his sights.

Mr Holland said: “I saw him in the water and thought he was really good.

“He doesn’t use his legs when he swims, it is more his upper arms, but he has a fantastic feel for the water and understands how to move through it.

“He works very hard and understands my instructions immediately.”

Having trained for the past three months as part of Oldham’s Aiming High project, which caters for swimmers with a range of disabilities, his first real test was at the North West Disability Championships on July 11 against older, more experienced swimmers. The Our Lady’s RC High School pupil went on to win a bronze medal.

Brogan is now aiming for the British Junior Disability Chamionships in January, with his coach convinced he could be winning medals at the Paralympic Games in 2016.

He said: “At his age, he has a very realistic chance of making international competitions. It would be a big ask for him to qualify for the 2012 Paralympics, but he has got the drive and potential to compete at the Rio games in 2016.”

Brogan’s father Michael Fox (39), said: “We never realised the potential he had, we used to get him to go swimming because it was a great exercise. It was a shock when Lee explained his potential.

“Seeing him win the bronze at the North West Disability Championships was amazing and a massive boost for him.

“Brogan has the drive to reach the Paralympics so with guidance and training, I could see him go far.”