A young Pembrokeshire swimmer shared the pool with some of the top names in British swimming at the weekend.
Thirteen year old Carys Thomas from Pembroke joined Olympic champion Rebecca Addlington, world champion Gemman Spofforth and Commonwealth medalists Hannah Miley, Jazz Carlin and Jemma Low in the pool at the Manchester Aquatic Centre for this year's British Swimming Championships.
Carys was the only Pembrokeshire swimmer to qualify for the prestigious event from which the best swimmers will be selected for this summer's World Championships in Shanghai.
The championships also acts as the selection trials for the European Junior Championships and World Youth Championships.
Carys took part in the 200m Open Individual Medley (IM) race at the weekend and next week will compete in her better event the 400m IM.
Competing against swimmers in their twenties Carys came 40th.
Pembrokeshire County Council's swimming development coach Paul Dowey praised Carys's dedication and commitment.
"This is the first year that Carys can qualify to swim in the British trials and she can swim without any expectations," he said,
"She proudly represents the development of the swimming programme in Pembrokeshire that has allowed her to produce performances of this standard.
"Her continued hard work and effort, and her commitment to her training programme, has certainly produced results," he said.
A pupil of Ysgol y Preseli, Carys learnt to swim at four and is a member of Pembroke and District swimming club. She trains with the Pembrokeshire County Swimming Performance Squad coached by Paul Dowey.
As well as the British Championships, Carys has also qualified for the British Age Group Championships in July and the Welsh Schools Championships in November.
Caption
Carys Thomas
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