Hackney children had the chance to learn from the best when two Great Britain Paralympic swimming champions joined them at a disability swimming gala at Clissold Leisure Centre in Stoke Newington.

The youngsters with disabilities met Dervis Konuralp, Hackney’s very own Paralympian and the borough’s Olympic and Paralympic ambassador; and Liz Johnson, Team GB’s 100m breaststroke gold medallist at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.

After taking top coaching tips from Dervis and Liz in the morning, the young athletes got the chance to compete against each other in the afternoon.

Cllr Guy Nicholson, Hackney Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, said: “It was great to see these young athletes enjoying swimming and being inspired by two great Paralympians. Who knows, one day they could follow in Dervis and Liz’s wake and be part of Britain’s world-beating Paralympic GB team.”

The day was organised by Hackney Council’s 2012 team, the Learning Trust which delivers all education in the borough, and the Council’s leisure partner GLL.