TWO Torfaen swimmers have been chosen by Swim Wales to represent Wales at the Commonwealth Games.

Dylan Broom and Meghan Willis  - along with Rebecca Lewis and Lily Rice - make up the largest Welsh para swimming squad to travel to a Commonwealth Games.

They will take on some of the world’s best para athletes at the newly built Sandwell Aquatics Centre in Birmingham this summer.

Each of the four swimmers had to rank in the top eight in the world for their event and class to seal qualification for the games.

Torfaen Dolphins will be represented by Broom and Willis, who will compete in the 200m Freestyle S14 and 200m Individual Medley SM10 events respectively.

Ross Nicholas, Swim Wales national performance director said: “We are extremely proud of the para swimmers who have gained qualification for the Commonwealth Games.

"This is testament to the hard work and dedication of the swimmers and their coaching teams.

"To see four para swimmers coming from three of our Performance Clubs really shows the depth and quality within our Performance Club network, and we can’t wait to see them race in Birmingham this summer."

Chris Jenkins, Commonwealth Games Wales chief executive, said: "Congratulations to all the athletes who have been announced today.

"It’s also very exciting to see so many new faces in today’s announcement, it’s a credit to every one of the athletes and their support team to qualify for the Commonwealth Games.’’

The four swimmers will be in action across six days of swimming, from July 29 through to August 3.

Abersychan's Broom, 20, whose condition affects his processing speed, reaction time,  and stroke rate, admitted he almost gave up the sport at the end of last year.

However, after conversations with his coaches and a British Swimming sports psychologist, he is back to his best and ready to take on the world this summer.

He said: “The way I found out was pretty interesting. My coach Ian knew, and we were out on a boys’ squad day out paintballing.

"As we were coming back home, he called me over in Newport and he told me there and then, and I broke into tears on the side of Malpas Road.

“At the start of this year I was considering quitting swimming. I wasn’t making any progress or improvements to my times. I think it was a mental block, physically I was fine but mentally I couldn’t get there.

“There was a couple of things that changed that for me. British Swimming got me talking to a sports psychologist. I had a really good chat with my other coach Tom as well and that really made a difference.

“It’s amazing to be representing Wales, this will be the biggest event I’ve ever competed at. It’s a home games, my brother and all my family will be there and even my friends bought tickets which I was surprised about because they’re so expensive.

"I’m going to have to perform for them now.”

Cwmbran swimmer Willis is the youngest of the quartet at just 14 years old.

The SM10 athlete, who was born without a right hand and partial forearm, has recently won youth gold medals at Para Swimming World Series events in Aberdeen and Italy to earn a nomination for the Disability Sport Wales Emerging Athlete of the Year Award.

She said: “It was a real shock when I found out, we were having a nose at everyone else’s times and I wasn’t sure whether I’d get in as the last qualifier or not.

“In my head, I’d told myself that it was fine if I didn’t make it, I would always be able to have another shot.

"So when I found out it was a bit of a shock and it took a while to settle in. I think it was the next day when I realised I was actually going! It was quite surreal.

“I get more excited than nervous; I try to stay as cool as a cucumber. When the build-up starts to get more intense the nerves might start to come in, but I’m just keeping happy and excited for now.”