The British Gas GBR Open Water Swimming Team that will take on the best swimmers from the continent at the European Junior Open Water Swimming Championships in Spain, has been announced.
The six-strong Team which features, World Championship finalist Thomas Allen and former European Junior Champion Eleanor Faulkner, will take part in the two day event from 12 August as they compete in the 5km races.
Reigning European Junior Champion Allen is hoping to put his experience into practice at his last junior event.
“I have always enjoyed the European Junior Championships and I feel good going back to the competition as reigning Champion,” Allen said. “I really want to retain my title and finish my years as a junior on a high.
“This year I have been to the LEN European Cup in Israel and the World Championships which have given me a lot of knowledge and experience that I think I can bring to this competition. It’s been good to compete against the world’s best athletes and I have learnt so much from them. This competition will round off my year well and I just want to do my best.”
Faulkner will be going to this competition off the back of racing in Portugal and is looking forward to getting back into Open Water racing.
“In 2009 I was crowned European Junior Champion and I want to go to Spain and get my title back,” Faulkner said. “It felt so good being on the top of the podium and I remember the feeling of hearing the national anthem playing. I have learnt a lot since then but I know that it will be a really competitive race but I’m going to give it all I have got.”