Ruta is Plymouth College’s golden girl!

Published: 31 July, 2012

The world is in awe after seeing Plymouth College pupil and top swimmer, Ruta Meilutyte, 15, claim Olympic gold in the 100m breaststroke last night.  The Lithuania sensation was visibly shocked to beat a world-class line up of experienced athletes.

With her times steadily improving since she came to Plymouth three years ago, Ruta fully joined the Plymouth College/Plymouth Leander elite swimming programme a year ago and has been slowly making a name for herself on the international swimming circuit ever since.

But it was Sunday morning's Olympic heats that really made everyone sit up and take notice when she knocked two seconds off her PB to be the fastest qualifier for the semi-finals.  An even quicker time in the semis saw her break the European record and claim a spot in the final.  Despite the distraction of a false start, Ruta stayed focussed and powered her way to Olympic victory.

Ruta is part of the school's elite swimming programme, which attracts the top young swimmers from around the world.  The school has its own 25-metre indoor pool but the recent opening of Plymouth's £46m Life Centre just across the park means that the swimmers can now train in a state-of-the-art 50-metre pool.  As well, a specialist boarding house at the school provides specific welfare, dietary, academic and medical needs of the athletes.  The house has its own physio room and teaching staff visit in the evening for additional academic support.

 "It is still sinking in that Plymouth College has an Olympic champion in Ruta!" said Plymouth College Headmaster, Dr Simon Wormleighton. "We are so incredibly proud of her and the euphoria felt cross the school community will be here for a very long time.  Ruta has now taken a very significant place in the school's history.  We are looking forward to seeing her swim again in the freestyle alongside fellow pupils Jamila Lunkuse and Jade Howard, as well as Tom Daley in the individual 10m platform event. 

"To have four athletes from the same school competing in an Olympics Games is absolutely phenomenal and we are taking pride in the knowledge that Plymouth College has played a massive part in helping these young athletes to achieve their dreams."

The school's reputation for mentoring and supporting top athletes goes way beyond the swimming programme and it boasts a 60-strong elite athlete family of day and boarding pupils, which includes modern pentathletes, fencers, rugby and basketball players, as well Tom Daley and other divers.

The school does all it can to ensure its athletes can perform at world level in the sports arena but at the same time achieve their academic goals.  It provides a unique environment that offers top sports people like Ruta the flexibility and support to do well in both. 

But the elite athletes form just 12% of the school community and the environment in which they thrive translates itself to all parts of the school -  it is very successful in economics and business studies with the school winning 11 national competitions in recent years and getting the top mark in the country at GCSE, A Level and DipFS on a number of occasions in this subject.  Equally, performing arts takes centre stage with a thriving number of music ensembles and school productions that would give a professional theatre company a run for its money. 

Enrichment is the fabric of life at Plymouth College with something for everyone and the school makes the most of being in such a beautiful part of the country with the moorland and coastal landscapes of Devon and Cornwall close to hand. Its ethos is to embrace individual talents and to encourage success and instil confidence across a broad front.