Lauren Quigley was enrolled for swimming lessons through Saracens at an early age and has never looked back since.  She first represented Saracens in an Intertown gala at the age of 9 and since then she has competed at all levels, representing Saracens and the City of Manchester Aquatics Swim Team at district, county, regional and national championships.

Last year at the age of just 13 Lauren Quigley qualified for the Olympic Trials for Beijing and one year on qualified for no less than nine events at the British National Long Course (50m) Trials held at Ponds Forge in Sheffield in March 2009. 

The weekend prior to this Lauren swam in the Home Nations International at Swansea for English Schools where she won the 100m Fly and 200m IM and was part of the two winning relay teams. The England Team won overall.

The weekend following the British Trials Lauren also swam in the Lancashire Championships, not only winning her own age in several events but also winning the senior and junior overall trophies in the 100m Backstroke.

At the British National Trials Lauren showed the country what a truly rare talent she has.   It was a proud moment for any Saracen past and present to see Lauren on the blocks proudly standing in her Saracens’ kit with the scoreboard displayed as Hazel Grove.

Tears of joy (and heartache) have been shed over the years but Lauren’s blossoming early career in swimming is testament to the many hours of hard work (sometimes training twice a day) and total dedication as well as the support from her family and coaches.  Her recent achievements at the National Trials provided just a glimpse of her potential by recording personal best times in all her events (and stealing the thunder of other local Stockport Metro swimmers in her age group).

Lauren is the second fastest in Britain for her age at 800m Free, 100m Free and 200m IM and third fastest in 200m and 100m Backstroke and 50m Freestyle.  Quite a list!

Having already notched up no less than ten national qualifying times for this year’s National Youth Championships, Lauren will be continuing her rigorous training regime and we eagerly look forward to hearing of her future success. 

Head Coach, Kevin Nuttall (pictured right with Lauren), has been with Lauren every step of the way and describes Lauren as ‘an inspiration to all Saracens swimmers, showing that anything is possible if you want it enough. Lauren is a teenager with a real focus and desire to succeed in swimming.  I am incredibly proud of her achievements to date. You can often see Lauren at the pool offering support to the next generation of Saracens swimmers (and coaches too).’

Lauren is following in the footsteps of other great Saracens swimmers including:

·         Olympic medallist Graeme Smith

·         Five times World Champion, Commonwealth Champion and four times European Champion James Hickman and

·         Great Britain’s most decorated female Paralympic swimmer and MBE, Sarah Bailey.

25 March 2009