A host of London-based swimmers and coaches were recognised at the 2007 London Sports Awards last week.

The annual awards, supported by The Lord's Taverners, London Sports Forum for Disabled People (LSF) and Sport England London, recognise the outstanding achievements of individuals and groups in the field of sport for disabled people.

Swimmers Craig Moate (Barking and Dagenham), Sarah-Louise Casey (Bromley), Madeleine Kirkman (Lewisham), Thomas Brown (Newham) and coach Michelle Weltman (Out to Swim) were category winners while more disabled swimmers made the final shortlist.

BBC sports commentator John Inverdale presented the awards and Paralympic swimming gold medallist Giles Long was guest speaker. 

S14 swimmer Craig Moate was named Sportsman of the Year after a fantastic 2007 that saw him break the 800m Freestyle World Record and the British and European 1500m long course record at the Bath Grand Prix. 

Special Olympian Sarah-Louise Casey received the Sportswomen of the Year award having set four new world records in the past 12 months and won the 100m Butterfly at the Learning Disability National Championships.

Madeleine Kirkman was named Junior Sportswoman of the Year and Thomas Brown was named Junior Sportsman of the Year after strong performances on the national stage, while Coach of the Year went to Michelle Weltman who has coached athletes at a variety of levels and has recently broadened her squad to include athletes with physical disabilities as well as those with visual impairments. 

The London Borough of Tower Hamlets won the Local Authority of the Year for its drive to include young disabled people in their activities, including a partnership with London Swimming to support the London Disability Swimming Squad. 

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