Nescot student competing in world swimming championships

A Nescot student is representing the country at a world championship event in Portugal next week.

Conor Macauley-Conway, who studies Level 2 Uniformed Public Services, is competing in five events at the Down Syndrome World Swimming Championships.

Today (Wednesday) Conor, who won two bronze medals at the European championships last year and gold in the Special Olympics in 2019, said he was feeling ‘confident’ for the worlds.

“I’ve been doing a lot of training and eating really well,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it, and I’m definitely feeling confident for medals and for setting a new personal best.”

Conor is competing in the 1500m, the 800m, the 200m, the 100m and the 50m events. He said he is feeling most optimistic about the 1500m, and is aiming for a time under the 30-minute mark.

Conor also enjoys running, and has taken part in 57 Parkruns, and he also plays football for the Fulham FC Foundation.

In March this year he raised more than £3,000 for Downs Syndrome Swimming Great Britain by swimming the equivalent distance of the Channel over three weeks, ending on World Down Syndrome Day.

Conor joined Nescot in the Foundation Learning department, progressing to Level 1 Sport last year before joining the Uniformed Public Services course in September.

“We’re all thinking of Conor and wishing him luck as he travels to Portugal,” said Matt Lavallin, Head of Sport, Travel and Public Services at Nescot.

“Conor has an excellent work ethic, and we’re looking forward to hearing about his successes and new records.”

Nescot offers Sport and Uniformed Public Services qualifications for school leavers as well as university-level study. You can find out more about qualifications for school leavers here, and about Higher Education here.