Year 11 student and swimming talent Tom has this week qualified for the British Championships.
After taking to the pool at the National Competitions in Sheffield last weekend, Tom received the news that he had successfully qualified for the British Championships held at the Olympic Park in London.
Tom, who started swimming competitively at the age of 10, qualified in two races; the 50 metre freestyle, in a time of 25.6 seconds, and the 100 metre breaststroke, in a time of 1 minute and 8.73 seconds. The next stage of the competition begins in April and gives competitors the chance to qualify for the European Championships.
In the meantime Tom, who trains seven times a week at Preston Swimming Club, will focus on training and improving his already impressive times. At 15 years old Tom was one of the youngest swimmers to compete in the National Competitions.
Tom said he was shocked when he learnt he had qualified for the British Championships. He said: “I didn’t expect to get the times I did. I feel so pleased that all my hard work has paid off.”
Whilst at the British Championships Tom will compete with older swimmers and many of those swimmers will have competed in previous Olympic Games. Having earned one of only 15 qualifying places from hundreds of swimmers Tom will now need to finish in the top two of ten lanes in the British Championships to qualify for Euro Festival which will take him one step closer to the Olympic Games.
Tom looks up to American swimmer and most decorated Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps, and would love to have the chance to compete at the Olympics one day.
Headteacher Mr Waller said: “I was delighted to hear of Tom’s success. Tom has shown dedication and commitment to swimming and this, coupled with a natural ability, has led him to where he is today. On behalf of everyone at the school I would like to wish Tom all the best for the upcoming British Championships.”
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