Charlie Hutchison wins 400m IM bronze at European Youth Olympic Festival

Charlie Hutchison won Team GB’s first swimming medal at the 2017 European Youth Olympic Festival with 400m Individual Medley bronze.

Having qualified fastest for the final, the Ellesmere College Titans swimmer clocked a personal best 4:25.90 to touch third at the Gyor Aqua Sports Centre in Hungary.

Greece’s Apostolos Papastamos took the title in a EYOF record 4:21.92 while Russia’s Danil Zaitsev won silver in 4:23.99.

Hutchison set his previous best 4:26.26 to win the junior final at April’s British Championships.

And the 15-year old admitted winning his first junior international medal was a feeling he wouldn’t forget in a hurry.

Great to say I’m the first medallist

“It’s great to say I’m the first medallist,” said Hutchison, who is coached by Alan Bircher.

“It’s a really good feeling. The atmosphere has been amazing and walking out, hearing all my team cheering me was great

“I know I’m strong in the first of the medley but I also knew the other guys would be good in the back half. I went out hard and thought I had nothing to lose.”

Hutchison will target another podium finish in Friday’s 200m Backstroke final while Titans teammate Pia Murray goes into the 100m Fly final as fifth fastest from the semis.