SWIMMING: Rising swimming star Joe Rhodes is continuing his impressive reign in the pool – this time accepting a prestigious place in a round of national training camps.

By Debbie Watson

SWIMMING

RISING swimming star Joe Rhodes is continuing his impressive reign in the pool – this time accepting a prestigious place in a round of national training camps.

The 14-year-old has been selected to take part in the tough events with a small number of other swimmers from around the UK.

Joe, who swims for Ipswich Swimming Club and is a pupil at Orwell High School, confirmed his place as a national champion last month when he took the title for the 100m freestyle at the ASA National Age Group Championships.

It is this fine form which has earned Rhodes his place in the forthcoming training camps, and he's thrilled to have the opportunity.

"All the swimmers were pulled from the results of the Age Group Championships," he said.

"Those who took first place in an event are now going forward to the camps and in all there are around five or six of us from each age bracket.

"I'm delighted because it means that I'll have the perfect chance to put my ability to the test and to face some really tough training alongside my age-group rivals."

When Joe clinched the National title in the ASA championships at Sheffield he also took personal bests in all three of his races.

He is feeling confident about his competitive stature and says he hopes the training camps will prove another step toward great things.

"Receiving the letter to confirm my place in the camps was just amazing," said Joe.

"I feel really proud of myself and I'm well aware that this is an important step in my swimming career.

"I intend to make the most of the opportunity and really prove what I can do."

Joe and other selected swimmers will now attend an open day about the training camps at Loughborough on October 12.