MELKSHAM swimmer Lucy Matthews recently competed at the Swim Wales Summer Open at the National Pool in Swansea, where she won silver in the 100- and 200-metre breaststroke.
Lucy, 16, swims with Team Bath AS, a performance swimming club, and achieved her best result so far at the competition in Wales. She explained, “It was an amazing experience competing at the Welsh Open. It was live streamed, so all my family and friends were able to share the excitement with me. I achieved a life time best in my 200 breaststroke, which I am really pleased with.”
After narrowly missing out on a place at the English Nationals, Lucy competed at the Welsh equivalent. The Welsh Open is a national competition which also opens up places to non-Welsh participants who meet the qualification standards.
Her mother, Kerry said, “Lucy swam over two days, competing in heats and finals, before taking to the podium to collect her well-deserved medals. I am immensely proud of Lucy’s achievement at the Welsh Open.”
Lucy started swimming at the Blue Pool, now Melksham Campus, when she was 6 and later joined Melksham Swordfish to start her competitive swimming journey. It was there that her coach noticed her skills in breaststroke and recommended that she trialled for Team Bath AS, a performance swimming club.
Despite swimming 14 hours a week at Bath University, Lucy maintains her links with Melksham Swordfish, the foundation stone of her swimming career. She recently completed her DofE, volunteering with them, sharing her love of swimming with other swimmers, and competes with them at local galas and competitions.
