Three gold medals and two bronze medals were brought home by a Haverhill swimmer competing at a recent European event.
Not content with that, Tom Cole, 22, also set a new world record and broke two European records when competing at the European Downs Syndrome Championships in Southampton on April 14 and 15.
He had five events over the weekend, three of which he will be doing in November at the Down’s World Championships in Italy.
West Suffolk Swimming Club (WSSC) member Cole started the first session with the 800 metre freestyle, where he stormed to victory in a time of 12 minutes, 11.9 seconds, taking the gold medal and also breaking the world record which had stood since 2008.
In the afternoon session, his first race was the 400m freestyle.
Cole, who was very nervous as he does not always count the correct number of lengths, was spot on on this occasion, coming in with a time of 5.55.41 and picking up another gold medal with a personal best (PB) time which also broke his own European Record.
This was followed up by the 100m Butterfly with a time of 1.36.91, a two second PB and a bronze medal.
On the Sunday morning, Cole started off with the 200m individual medley (IM), with friend and team mate Ben swimming in the next lane, and it was a great race with the friendly rivalry.
Cole’s entered time was 3.09.09 and he managed to hold the gold medal position with a time of 3.07.87, bettering his own European record in the process.
His last event was the 100m freestyle, which was a very close race with a second between the first three.
Cole bagged the bronze with a time of 1.20.06, just outside his best time.
The Team GB manager was really pleased with how Cole swam, and mum Barbara attributed his success to his and Pat Jason’s (coach) wonderful partnership.
“The time and effort that both have put in over the years and specifically the past eight months of the season have been rewarded with some fantastic swims,” she said.
Cole’s events at The Downs World Championships in Italy in November will be the 1,500 freestyle, 800m freestyle, 400m freestyle, 200m backstroke, 400m IM and the 200m IM.
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Video from the European Down Syndrome Swimming Competition 2012 from YouTube
He had five events over the weekend, three of which he will be doing in November at the Down’s World Championships in Italy.
West Suffolk Swimming Club (WSSC) member Cole started the first session with the 800 metre freestyle, where he stormed to victory in a time of 12 minutes, 11.9 seconds, taking the gold medal and also breaking the world record which had stood since 2008.
In the afternoon session, his first race was the 400m freestyle.
Cole, who was very nervous as he does not always count the correct number of lengths, was spot on on this occasion, coming in with a time of 5.55.41 and picking up another gold medal with a personal best (PB) time which also broke his own European Record.
This was followed up by the 100m Butterfly with a time of 1.36.91, a two second PB and a bronze medal.
On the Sunday morning, Cole started off with the 200m individual medley (IM), with friend and team mate Ben swimming in the next lane, and it was a great race with the friendly rivalry.
Cole’s entered time was 3.09.09 and he managed to hold the gold medal position with a time of 3.07.87, bettering his own European record in the process.
His last event was the 100m freestyle, which was a very close race with a second between the first three.
Cole bagged the bronze with a time of 1.20.06, just outside his best time.
The Team GB manager was really pleased with how Cole swam, and mum Barbara attributed his success to his and Pat Jason’s (coach) wonderful partnership.
“The time and effort that both have put in over the years and specifically the past eight months of the season have been rewarded with some fantastic swims,” she said.
Cole’s events at The Downs World Championships in Italy in November will be the 1,500 freestyle, 800m freestyle, 400m freestyle, 200m backstroke, 400m IM and the 200m IM.
*****
Video from the European Down Syndrome Swimming Competition 2012 from YouTube
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