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Alice Dearing claims gold at World Junior Open Water Champs

Alice Dearing won a sprint finish to claim 10km gold at the 2016 World Junior Open Water Championships in Hoorn.

The Loughborough University swimmer overtook Hungary’s Nikoletta Kiss in the final strokes to become the first Brit to win gold at a World Junior Open Water Championship.

Dearing’s result comes just 24 hours after Hector Pardoe became the first Brit to win a medal at this level with 5km bronze.

Dearing had been the closest of anyone to reaching the World Junior Open Water podium in the past.

The teenager finished an agonising fourth in the 7.5km at the 2014 World Juniors in Hungary, with Kiss winning gold.

But the English swimmer turned the tables on her rival in Hoorn, pouncing in the last 50m to finish 0.5 seconds ahead in 2:04:24.1.

Dearing wins her second medal in as many years

Victory brought a second junior international medal for Dearing in as many years, having won European Junior bronze in 2015.

She also made her senior World Championship debut last season, finishing 23rd in the 5km event in Kazan.

English swimmers Philippa Shuttleworth and Tom Millburn were also in action in the 10km races.

Shuttleworth – who trains at Loughborough with Dearing – was 18th in 2:09:05.0 while Cockermouth swimmer Millburn was 24th in 1:58:56.1.

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