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Melbourne experience holds Hollingsworth in good stead

Tom HollingsworthTom Hollingsworth is something of a reluctant star. He loves his swimming, he is dedicated to it and, of course, he is extremely talented to boot.

Yet he still harbours that modest element of surprise when approached for an interview and the bashful grin that really came to prominence when he starred in the Shetland Island Games of 2005 remains.

Beneath it, though, is someone who has matured well and is preparing for his second crack at a Commonwealth Games.

Now 21, Hollingsworth (pictured) was one of seven Guernsey swimmers who mixed it with some of the world’s elite in Melbourne in 2006, but he feels as if he has some unfinished business that he wants to rectify in Delhi next October.

‘The Commonwealth Games is the main aim,’ he said.

‘The experience of the whole occasion is the biggest thing I took from Melbourne. That was the big one for me and I was quite disappointed with how I performed, but I think I was a bit overwhelmed when I was there.

‘The 200 fly and the 400m individual medley [will be the main disciplines I am looking at in Delhi] and I am hoping to final in those two events.’

Hollingsworth was speaking at the conclusion of Saturday morning’s session of the Rothschild Island Swimming Championships.

 

Newsflash

Despair turned to terrific excitement for the Elizabeth College relay teams at the weekend.

Following initial fears that their chance to compete at the English Schools Swimming Association Team Nationals finals would be scuppered due to adverse weather conditions, they eventually grabbed their unexpected opportunities with both hands.

As master in charge Brain Allen explained: ‘To reach a national swimming final is a goal that makes all the training and years of hard work worthwhile, so you can imagine how the team felt when they heard the announcement that Birmingham Airport was closed due to snow.

‘They were devastated.’