Daniel Sliwinski, aged 16 and in the Sixth Form at Bolton School Boys' Division, has won a gold medal in the 100m breast stroke (16 years and under) and a bronze in the 4 x 100m relay at the first UK School Games. He was in the Midlands Team which includes entrants from the Manchester area.
Over 1000 children from 5 different sports - athletics, swimming, gymnastics, table tennis and fencing – took part in the competition. There will be a UK School Games each year up until 2012 and it is hoped that these events will help develop young talent in the UK as well as provide invaluable experience of major tournaments prior to the 2012 Olympic Games.
Daniel enthused: "It was a brilliant weekend. There was an athletes' village, everyone was very professional and there was a real buzz about the event. I knew a lot of the people there and it seemed that everyone had half an eye on the 2012 Olympic Games in the UK and, bearing that in mind, I was absolutely delighted with my gold medal.”
Prior to the games, Daniel was ranked 3rd in the country and it was this high ranking that booked his passage into the games. Daniel trains at Manchester Aquatics Centre and swims with Bolton School in major competitions. He trains about 23 hours a week in the pool as well as 2 or 3 sessions per week in the gymnasium.