Share your love of swimming - Get info on training to become a swim teacher from just £79

Burnell takes gold in first swim of the year

National Centre Loughborough swimmer, Jack Burnell, won gold in the Abu Dhabi leg of the FINA/HOSA Marathon Swimming World Cup.

He was competing against challenging a field of over 80 swimmers, but he kept his cool to secure the top spot on the podium.

The victory came after Burnell beat Ferry Weertman of the Netherlands and Marc-Antoine Olivier of France in a nail-biting sprint to the finish. There was less than half a second between the top three, with Burnell touching in 1:45.54.6.

Burnell said: “At the end of the day, it’s about ticking that box and getting the first one under my belt since Rio. I am out there to win every single race I go into, I am not out there to come second, third or fourth.

“So for me it’s about turning up to races in the best possible shape I can and showing people what I can do.”

Hughes narrowly misses out on top 10 finish

Caleb Hughes, also based at the National Centre Loughborough, finished just outside the top 10. Hughes, who won bronze in the 2016 European Open Water Championships in Hoorn last year, finished 11th with 1:46.05.9.

In the women’s race, Alice Dearing and Danielle Huskisson finished 16th and 28th respectively.

This was the first event of the year for the British team as they work towards the World Championships in July.

The squad comprised of:

  • Jack Burnell – National Centre Loughborough
  • Alice Dearing – National Centre Loughborough
  • Caleb Hughes – National Centre Loughborough
  • Danielle Huskisson – University of Stirling
  • Toby Robinson – National Centre Loughborough
Top