Founders Prize 2020

​

The winner of this year’s Founders Prize is Oliver Jones from Ledbury and Malvern Swimming Club.

​

Oliver achieved the following during the shorten 2020 season.

 

• Eleven gold medals and seven silver medals from eighteen swims at the 2020 Worcester County Championships.

​

• Became Junior County Champion nine times.

​

• Broke two long-standing Junior County Records (short course) at the same meet in the 50m and 100m Breaststroke events

​

• Qualified for all seventeen events at the cancelled 2020 West Midland Championships

​

• Broke 100m Breaststroke Junior County Long course record at the 70th ESSA Inter-Divisional Championships 2020 in Sheffield

​

• Played an integral role in his club's promotion to Division 2 in the National Arena League

​

• Selected for and participated in the Swim England National Development Programme at the beginning of the season

 

This season has tested his mental fortitude like no other.  Rather than taking the easy option during lockdown Oliver created his own comprehensive dryland programme, which is now paying dividends in the pool.  His times in training suggest he is far ahead of where he was 12 months ago and, proving they go ahead, he and the club are confident he will at least double the number of events he qualified for at the 2019 British Summer Championships from three to six this season.  

 

The results Oliver has had along with the progress he continues to make are a true reflection of his all-round approach towards swimming and his attitude is an inspiration to the rest of his team mates, young and old.  From taking care of his nutrition and sleep quality to his highly structured pre-pool and post-pool routines, he is showing all the attributes you would expect from an elite level junior swimmer with the highest possible aspirations.

 

Our congratulations go to Oliver, a very worthy winner.

​