VIDEO: Backstroke sensation Knight in dreamland after Olympic pool personal bests
TEENAGE swimming sensation Liam Knight has qualified for the European Junior Championships after smashing his personal bests... in the OLYMPIC POOL.
The 17-year-old, from Wisbech, is enjoying the performance of his career in front of the television cameras at the British Swimming Championships this week, racing in the same pool as world champions Liam Tancock and Rebecca Adlington.
He beat his personal best twice in the 100m backstroke, clocking 57.11 in the semi-final on Sunday night.
The teenage star won his 200m backstroke heat this morning, in a time of 2 minutes 04.02 seconds - half a second off his personal best. He will compete in the semi-finals tonight as the 11th fastest qualifier.
Knight said: “It’s an absolute honour just to compete in the Olympic pool.
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“I was pretty nervous on Sunday because it was my first time at the really top level, against the big stars.
“Rebecca Adlington was in the race before me and she looked really chilled out so I just tried to copy her.
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“When I walked out it was amazing. It was so big and there were so many people cheering - apparently you can hear my coach on the television screaming me on.”
Knight, who competes for the City of Peterborough Swimming Club (COPS), received a letter on Monday telling him he had qualified for the European Junior Championships, set to be held in Antwerp, Belgium, in July.
He said: “The whole of the Peterborough swimming club had county championships on Sunday night but one of the dads brought a television with him and they all ran out to watch me race.
“I was so happy when I heard what they had done - it feels really good.”
