Peaty and Hynd amongst Swim England National Awards winners

Swimming News

Adam Peaty and Ollie Hynd were amongst six competitive swimmers who were recognised at the Swim England National Awards 2017 at the University of Birmingham

The event took place at the university’s Great Hall, and recognised the vast contribution of individuals and organisations from all areas of the sport.

Peaty, Hynd, Timothy Shuttleworth, Emilia Sansome, Luke Batty and Annabel Guye-Johnson were all presented with awards for their amazing performances over the last 12 months.

Jane Nickerson, Swim England CEO, said: “We have so many inspirational people involved at all levels of our sport and it is wonderful to have the opportunity to celebrate them at the Swim England National Awards.

“The day is also about thanking those behind the scenes who continue to encourage us to do our best, particularly our family and friends, and I am thrilled that so many people were able to join us in Birmingham.

“On behalf of all everyone involved with swimming, I would like to congratulate all our finalists for their achievements.”

Peaty, Hynd and Shuttleworth win Performance Athlete of the Year

Peaty took Performance Athlete of the Year for Swimming after his incredible 2017 season which saw him take home two gold medals at the World Championships in Budapest.

Peaty won the 50m and 100m Breaststroke, breaking the world record twice on his way to the 50m title.

Hynd secured Para-Swimming Athlete of the Year for his impressive accolades and some great performances this year. Hynd is currently World, European and Commonwealth champion for SM8 200m Individual Medley.

This year he has also been selected as a Team England Ambassador for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, and broke a world record in the S8 400m Freestyle at the British Summer Championships.

Hynd commented: “I was really pleased with the 400m Freestyle world record this year. After Rio I thought I was probably pretty close to my limit, to where I could take the event.

“After a turbulent 12 months and some reassessment as to where I could go, I was quite surprised to take another two seconds off at the British Summer Champs.”

For Shuttleworth, 2017 has been a time of change. He is based at the National Centre in Loughborough and is excelling in the senior ranks having come through the England Talent Pathway to reach last year’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

He won the Performance Athlete of the Year for Open Water. This year he competed in the 5km at the World Championship event at Lake Balaton, Hungary and brought home a bronze medal.

Guye-Johnson, Batty and Sansome win England Talent Athlete of the Year

Three up-and-coming athletes were presented with England Talent Athlete of the Year for their achievements over the past 12 months.

Guye-Johnson of RTW Monson won England Talent Athlete of the Year for Swimming. As part of the England Talent Phase 3 international camp she went to Marseille in France where she performed with distinction.

She then swam an incredible race in the 200m Breaststroke at the World Junior Championships. She claimed bronze in a new personal best time.

Guye-Johnson said: “It all started in April of this year really, when I was selected for the World Junior Championships in Indianapolis.

“I was entered into all three breaststroke events and came away with bronze in the 200m. It was a three second PB – I think because there was less pressure as it wasn’t my main event, I enjoyed it and came away with a medal.”

Batty was selected for the England Talent Pathway in 2014 at the age of nine, and is now progressing on the junior development programme.

He embodies the culture of the programme, showing a great attitude and maturity beyond his years at all times. This attitude is what won him England Talent Athlete of the Year for Para-Swimming.

Batty commented on his award: “I’ve been on the England Talent programme since I was nine and it’s really helped me top develop. I’m hoping to stay on it. I’ve got an assessment day tomorrow to see if I’ll stay on it for the next year.

“Hopefully one day I’ll reach British Swimming level and maybe make the 2028 Paralympic Games.”

The final swimming award was presented to Emilia Sansome. The Wycombe and District swimmer took home England Talent Athlete of the Year for Open Water for being a positive role model for the sport.

She attended the Phase 2 and Phase 3 camps in 2017 and competed at the 2017 European Junior Open Water Championships in Marseille with some impressive performances.

Sansome swam the anchor leg for the British 5km Mixed Relay quartet in Marseille, bringing the team home for bronze.

She said: “I train 10 pool sessions a week and four land sessions, and I try and stay in the pool for two hours every session. I’m hoping to get into the European Juniors for Open Water again, and long term I would like to go to the Olympics – I think that is every swimmer’s dream.”

  • Click here to find out more about the Swim England National Awards and see all of the 2017 categories.
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