Sutton teenager Thomas Swales completed another busy season by qualifying for two events at the British Swimming Summer Championships and a further seven at the Swim England National Summer Meet.

The 14-year-old Ashfield School, Kirkby, student was national champion in the 100m butterfly, 800m freestyle and 1500m freestyle at the ‘nationals’, and also won bronze in the 100m freestyle. In total he made it to six and out a possible seven finals and claimed personal bests in every event.

The top 24 qualifying times made it to the British Summer Championships, where Thomas competed in the 14/15 years age group. At the ‘nationals’, for swimmers ranked 25 to 40 per age group, he was in the 13/14 years section.

After a season that saw the retirement of one coach, transitioning between squads, and a few injuries, Thomas put in some sterling performances.

His father, David Swales, added: “Many thanks to the Nova team for getting him there, getting him ready, and getting him through it.”

At the British Summer Championships the teenager made a personal best in the 200m freestyle and again in the 400m, where he also reached the final.

Highlights at the ‘nationals’ included Thomas’ first sub-60 seconds time in the 100m butterfly heat, and then going sub-59 seconds to become national champion. In the 800m freestyle, where he was a heat declared winner, the teenager went 17 seconds faster than his previous PB for a second national title.

After bronze in the 100m freestyle final, the following day he knocked 54 seconds off his previous best in the 1500m freestyle for the third quickest time, 16:49.10, of all males in the event to become a three-time national champion.