The Microgaming Isle of Man Para Swimming Team has been sponsored by Microgaming PlayItForward since 2015 and has given individuals the opportunity and assistance to compete in the sport.
The team of incredible young swimmers who are managed by the Isle of Man Swimming Association, have had amazing success at national as well as international events.
Ben Grainger, the newest member of Microgaming’s Ambassador Program which has been supporting individuals of outstanding caliber since 2013, is a youngster who has shown tremendous talent. Ben now joins fellow Ambassadors, Laura Kinley (swimmer) and Joseph Ricciardi (triathlete) who have successfully competed across the world in their respective sports through the financial assistance of the initiative.
Fourteen-year-old Ben has exhibited a promising talent in swimming and in 2014, the then 11-year-old was the youngest in the Under 14 category in the National Para Swimming Championships where he collected five medals, including two golds in the 50m and 100m freestyle events.
In 2015 Ben competed in the British Disability Championships and raced to victory in the Under-13s category, winning three gold medals and two silvers. He was then selected to join a number of the country’s finest athletes in 2016 at the British Swimming Para Academy where he is one of 49 swimmers in the program set to develop athletes for success at the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo.
Ben was also selected as the first reserve for the Men’s 100m breaststroke final, finishing 4th in the Talent Tokyo final against other Paralympic hopefuls.
To date Ben has been awarded the Disability Sports Person of the Year (2014, 2015 and 2016) at the Isle of Man Sports Awards for three years in a row.
The Head of Microgaming PlayItForward, Claire Coleman, said that they are absolutely thrilled to welcome Ben to the Ambassador program. She added that he is the perfect role model for Microgaming and PlayItForward.
