Oliver Morgan makes a splash on the national stage

The Ludlow Swimming Club member made a splash in Sheffield as he topped the backstroke podium in the 16-year-old men’s category over 50 and 100 metres.

As well as being awarded gold medals, he recorded lifetime best swims on his way to both victories – just five days after recording a new best in the 200m backstroke at the British Championships.

Ludlow head coach Nathan Bradford said: “Oliver’s performance over the two weekends is a credit to the time and dedication that he has put into swimming.

“He is a credit to the club and a fantastic role model to the other swimmers who were glued to the internet watching him swim.”

Morgan had been chosen to compete at the British and English championships after winning over 50, 100 and 200m at the West Midlands Championships in May.

His first task was to tackle the British Championships in Glasgow, qualifying for the final of the 200m backstroke by winning his heat in a new personal best of two minutes 10.63 seconds.

The Shropshire swimmer lowered that mark by another 0.56 seconds in the final as he finished seventh.

Less than a week later, the teenager was at Ponds Forge in Sheffield for the English National Swimming Championships.

He smashed his previous personal best of more than a second to qualify for the 50m backstroke final in 27.67 seconds and then went one-hundreth of a second quicker to become English champion in the final.

Early the next morning, with little time to celebrate, Morgan was back in the pool for the 100m back- stroke.

He broke the one-minute barrier to qualify for the final in a new lifetime best – and then went even faster – clocking 59.16 seconds – to take home his second gold.