Having achieved remarkable success at Dorset county level, 11 year old Daisy from Swanage has gone on to scoop a silver and three bronze medals at the Swim England South West regional championships.
Taking place over two weekends, Daisy travelled first to Millfield School in Somerset and then a few weeks later on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th May 2023 to Bristol, where she added to her medal haul.
Daisy at the Swim England South West regional competition
Competing against top swimmers from the South West
The Swim England South West regional championship is open to the top swimmers from Dorset, Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.
At Millfield School, competing for the first time at a regional level, Daisy got straight through to the finals and won a silver medal in the 200 metre individual medley and a bronze medal in the 100 metre butterfly race in the under age 12 category.
A few weekends later, Daisy travelled up to Hengrove Park Leisure Centre in Bristol, where she once again fought through to the finals, winning a bronze medal in the 200 metre breaststroke and another bronze in the 800 metre freestyle in her age group.
One of Daisy’s favourite strokes is the butterfly which requires greater strength
Trains five days a week
Daisy, whose family run the popular Swanage fish and chip shop The Fish Plaice, trains five days a week at the 25 metre long Littledown swimming pool in Bournemouth.
However the races at the regional championships take place in 50 metre pools. Daisy said:
“It’s so different competing in a 50 metre pool as it’s so much harder than the smaller pool that I train in. You don’t have all the walls and turns to help you, so it needs a different level of endurance.”
Unfortunately there’s no 50 metre pool in Dorset for Daisy to train in, which makes her achievements even more remarkable.
Daisy – determined to win!
“Her grit and determination to win a race is actually quite scary!”
Her mother, Sam said
“We are so incredibly proud of Daisy – her grit and determination to win a race is actually quite scary! She is so focused, sometimes missing out on social occasions to get up at 4 am to go training four mornings a week before school.
“It’s great to see all her dedication is paying off and really glad that Daisy has discovered a passion for swimming at such an early age.”
Daisy with head coach from Swim Bournemouth Jeff Sandley
“Testament to how hard she trains”
Coaching from the side was her coach Luke Dormer and head coach from Swim Bournemouth Jeff Sandley who says she has a fierce level of determination when she sets her mind to winning.
Luke Dormer added:
“It’s impressive that Daisy qualified to enter a competition of this high standard and achieve such success. It really is a testament to how hard she trains.”
