Hughes eyes shock Olympic swim after all-conquering year

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Posted: Wednesday 12th October 2011 | 13:27

WHEN the London 2012 Olympics begin next year Caleb Hughes will be just 16 - but after a medal-laden season the budding swimmer believes he has a chance to shine under Olympic lights.

OLYMPIC DREAMS: Caleb Hughes, pictured with recently retired Cassie Patten, will bid for a surprise place at the London 2012 Games next March

The 15-year-old underlined his potential at the UK School Games last month, leaving Sheffield clutching four medals including the 1500m freestyle title to go with 4x100m freestyle relay gold and 4x200m freestyle relay and 200m medley silver.

But that doesn't begin to tell half of the story of Hughes' year as at July's ASA National Youth Championships, also in Sheffield, he claimed six medals with golds coming in the 1750m open water, 400m and 1500m freestyles.

And all this silverware has whetted Hughes' appetite - the teenager now ready to leave his mark at the Olympic trials, set to be held at the London 2012 Aquatics Centre next March.

"I have had a good year this year and I couldn't have really asked for much more from the competitions I entered," said Hughes - who has been named by Kellogg's as one of their Champions of Tomorrow.

"The last competition I had was the UK School Games and that went really well because, not only did I win four medals, but I also beat Joel Knight in the 1500m freestyle.

"Joel and I are good friends out of the pool but we are close rivals in the water so it was nice to get one over him.

"I have taken a lot of confidence from this year and that means I can head into next year looking to do big things and for me it is the Olympic trials that I am targeting.

"Even though I am young I will give it a go and if not I always have the European Junior Championships to fall back on so we will have to see what happens but while I have a chance I will give it my all."

Kellogg's has been supporting British Swimming for more than 15 years on a ‘grassroots to gold medals' programme of swimming. Visit www.kelloggs.co.uk/swimming for more information.