Triple Joy for Jim the Swim

Aug 27 2010 By Alistair Watson

Jim Anderson

WEST Lothian swimming star Jim Anderson has been celebrating after he claimed a hat-trick of medals for Great Britain at the World Paralympic Championships in the Netherlands.

WEST Lothian swimming star Jim Anderson has been celebrating after he claimed a hat-trick of medals for Great Britain at the World Paralympic Championships in the Netherlands.

The Broxburn swimmer, nicknamed Jim the Swim because of his prowess in the pool, added yet more medals to his already bulging trophy cabinet by collecting bronze medals in the 50m free, 100m free and 100m backstroke.

It was an incredible medal haul for 47-year-old Jim, who was competing against teenagers in some of his events at the International Paralympic Committee World Championships in Eindhoven.

Jim, who has cerebral palsy, will add the medals to the incredible 17 medals he has from five Paralympics stretching back to Barcelona 1992.

The swimmer’s haul includes six gold, nine silver and two bronze medals.

Jim, who was awarded a MBE in 2004, visited Buckingham Palace for a second time in November last year where he was made an Officer of the British Empire.

His parents, John and Brenda, told the Courier of their pride in Jim‘s outstanding achievements.

Mum Brenda said: "He’s so happy to be third in the world at three events.

"It’s a great achievement for him as he is competing against people who are less than half his age now.

"When you are 47 you are pushing it a bit but we are so proud that he’s managed to be in amongst the medals again."

Jim has had a remarkable career and picked up the Scottish Sports Personality of the Year award in 2004 beating off competition from household names such as Chris Hoy and Colin Montgomerie.

The swimmer collected four medals at the Beijing Paralympics in 2008 and despite the fact he will be just a year short of his 50th birthday by the time the next Paralympics are held in London in 2012 the swimmer says he plans to be there to take on the world’s best again.

Brenda added: "He’s just taking it a year at a time at the moment he’s looking towards the European championships next year.

"The British squad are hoping he will keep going until London 2012. That is what he is training for.

"He still enjoys it as much and has no plans to retire yet."