UEL student starts Olympic year in style with success in Belgium

University of East London swimmer Aimee Willmott left a lasting impression on her first overseas event of the Olympic year after making the podium in all four of her events.

The London Aquatics Performance Programme (LACPP) member was competing in the Flanders Cup in Antwerp, Belgium where here highlight was winning gold in the 400m individual medley.

Willmott was also second in the 200m individual medley race and third place in the 200m butterfly and 400m freestyle which saw her named as swimmer of the meet.

Fellow LACPP member Edmund Ashton was also in Belgium and while he missed out on all senior finals in his breaststroke events, the bright prospect did achieve a personal best over 50m.

Back in the UK, Michael Gunning won 100m and 200m butterfly and the 400m freestyle to give the LACPP success at the Kent County Championships.

And LACPP head coach Lisa Bates was delighted with the efforts and success of all the programme’s member, both at home and abroad.

“Their achievements continue to inspire everyone involved in the programme,” said Bates. “This is exactly the start to year that we were hoping for.

It’s great to see our performance swimmers winning races both for them on a personal level but also as it helps to inspire all of our younger swimmers to develop their swimming in the hope that they can follow in the footsteps of elite swimmers like Aimee.”

The LACPP will next turn their attention to the younger swimmers in the legacy squads as they prepare for competition at the end of February.