Plymouth College swimmers have contributed to seven of England's eleven gold medals in the multi-sport World Schools Games in Brazil. Part of English Schools Swimming Association's 23-strong team, the five swimmers from Plymouth College also secured seven silver medals and three bronze medals.
Competing in the open-air pool at the Ayrton Senna Aquatics Complex, the swimmers had to contend with torrential rain and gale force winds at times.
Olympic and World Champion, Ruta Meilutyte, won gold medals and set competition best times in the 50m breaststroke, 50m freestyle and 100m freestyle. She also won silver in the 400m medley relay. Ruta missed out on her favourite 100m breaststroke on day 2 because of illness.
World Junior medallist, Grace Vertigans, took gold in the 50m butterfly and 400m freestyle relay with silvers in the 100m butterfly, 400m medley relay, 100m freestyle and 50m backstroke. She claimed a bronze medal in the 50m freestyle.
European Junior medallist, Jack Smith, secured gold in the 400m medley relay, silvers in the 50m freestyle and 400m freestyle relay, with a bronze in the 100m freestyle.
British Champion, Harry Ackland, won gold in the 50m breaststroke in a new competition best time, while British medallist, Jack Burton, took gold in the 400m medley relay, silver in the 50m breaststroke and bronze in the 200m breaststroke.
Two other swimmers from Plymouth were also part of the English team and also won medals. Plymouth College's Director of Swimming and Plymouth Leander Head Coach, Jon Rudd, was in charge of the team that was named the Top Swimming Team of the Games.
"This was a phenomenal competition for English Schools and Plymouth College," said Jon. "I am absolutely delighted that all my swimmers have returned with at least one medal each. The swimming contribution to the English Schools tally is pretty impressive and I am really proud that Plymouth has played such a big part in it."
