Athletes in nero win 9 medals at the British International Swim Meet

Olympian Georgia Davies in training in Swansea

Last week swimmers from across the UK, Europe, the USA and UAE travelled to Leeds for the first British International Swim Meet.  The meet was highly anticipated and featured an impressive line up of athletes, including triple Olympic gold medallist Natalie Coughlin, and current Olympic champions Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania and Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands.

Between them blueseventy swimmers, known as ‘teamblueseventy’, reached the podium nine times winning four gold, three silver and two bronze medals. Derventio eXcel (who recently renewed a swimwear deal with blueseventy) swimmer Abbie Wood also met the qualifying criteria to compete for GB at the European Youth Olympics.

James Guy, the youngest member of teamblueseventy, had an outstanding meet, winning the 200 freestyle (1:48.28) and 800 freestyle (8:04.38). At just 18-years-old James was young enough to swim in the junior final but chose to race in the senior finals.

In the 200 freestyle he beat two-time Olympian and 2010 Commonwealth Games champion over that distance, Robbie Renwick, while in the 800 freestyle he beat  Britain’s Daniel Fogg, who finished 5^th in the Open Water 10km at London 2012. But James didn’t stop there. He also won silver in the 400 freestyle only losing out narrowly to Robbie Renwick, and bronze in the 200 butterfly.

Georgia Davies, who represented Team GB at London 2012, produced some fast early season times to become double champion in the 50 backstroke (28.04) and 100 backstroke (1:00.45). It was a narrow victory for Georgia in the 100, with only 0.06 separating her and silver medallist Lauren Quigley.

2010 Commonwealth Games competitor Alys Thomas swam two lifetime best times to win a silver medal in the 100 butterfly (59.62) and a bronze in the 200 butterfly (2:11.63). She was only denied gold in the 100m by three time Olympian Jeanette Ottesen Gray from Denmark, who finished 6^th in 100 butterfly at London 2012.

Adam Barrett also won silver in the 50 butterfly in a blanket finish, with just 0.13 separating second and fifth place. Barrett touched ahead of British Champion Jack Marriott, and Olympians Anthony James and Michael Rock.

Congratulations to all the athletes who were swimming fast in nero!