SWIMMER Ryan Crouch is celebrating after being named in Great Britain's Paralympics team for Rio.

The 22-year-old, from Lawford, has been named in a 31-strong squad by the British Paralympic Association (BPA).

He is set to make his Paralympic debut in a team that features a formidable list of Paralympic multi-medallists, including Ellie Simmonds, Charlotte Henshaw, James Crisp, Claire Cashmore and Sascha Kindred.

“I’ve been working really hard towards my goal of representing my country at a Paralympic Games and couldn’t be happier," said a delighted Crouch, who now swims for Ipswich Swimming Club but is a former member of Harwich and Dovercourt Swimming Club and Colchester Phoenix.

"It’s business as usual now until the opening day of competition but I’m really honoured to be representing ParalympicsGB for the first time this summer. "It’s a fantastic reward to my parents and to everyone that’s supported me over the past few years.”

Crouch, a former pupil at Lawford Primary School and Manningtree High School, effectively sealed his place after impressing at the British Para-Swimming International Meet in Glasgow, in April.

He claimed a silver medal and hit the qualification time in the 50 metres S9 freestyle.

Penny Briscoe MBE, ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission for Rio 2016, said: “I'm really excited to announce the swimming team for ParalympicsGB.

"This is historically a major medal sport for the team.

"Recent world and European competitions suggest we could be looking at a big medal haul once again.

"Their performances at the recent European Championships have demonstrated the strength in depth that we have in this team and how exceptional these athletes are.

“The pool is one of the many places where competition at every Games just keeps getting tougher and it is going to be a real battleground for our athletes again in Rio. I can’t wait to watch them compete and cheer them on."

Monday’s announcement brings the number of selected athletes to a total of 81, across the sports of sailing, judo, table tennis, powerlifting, wheelchair rugby, wheelchair basketball (women’s) and swimming.