Taipei Report, days 4 and 5

After their rest day on Thursday, the team were back in the competition pool yesterday. Tom did a creditable 200 free, again achieving a personal best, though he might have gone faster had he paced the first 50m better – he went out like a rocket and then slowed up. He then did a 50m fly, again achieving a slight PB. The rest of the team did well, and again Hannah got a bronze medal.
On Saturday, Tom took part in a 200IM, with another PB and a Pellegrini moment – his new Arenas went at the backside at the end of the race. Attempts to repair it with duct tape (!) failed, so the trusty Diana’s, though a bit on the baggy side, came into service for the 4 x 100 freestyle men’s relay. (Bearing in mind the speed with which he had to change, it was probably as well that they are now baggy!) Most importantly the team qualified for the final!
The GB team were ranked 8th, and ultimately came in 8th, improving their time slightly, from 3 51 06, to 3 50 98. This was just fractionally outside the British record but still represents a great performance. But Tom came here, improved his times, evaluated the opposition, took part in a final, and wants to be selected for the Europeans next June. The opposition he and the rest of the GB team have faced here have been truly awesome, including some very fast swimmers from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, as well as one Terence Parkin (SA), silver medallist at the Sidney Olympics. (Note to Matt K – Terry has been getting PBs at this meet!) What an experience Tom has had, and how privileged he has been to take part in something like this.
Back to reality, then, at the end of next week, and back to school on 21st September.