Teen swimmer 'hopes to do Bradford proud' at Olympic trials

Sophia Gledhill, a 16-year-old swimmer from Bradford, has achieved a qualifying time for the upcoming British Swimming Championships and Olympic trials.

Sophia set her qualifying time of 2:23:29 in the 200m butterfly event at the Derby Excel New Year Meet in Sheffield on January 19, beating her personal best of 2:23:60 in the process.

At the Sheffield meet, Sophia was representing the City of Bradford Swimming Club, the competitive outlet of Bradford Council’s Elite Swimming and Development Scheme, with whom she has been training since she was just nine years old.

Sophia, who trains at Shipley and Eccleshill Pools nine times a week, said: “My goal for this year was to try and qualify for the British Championships, I knew it was going to be tough with it also being an Olympic trial event and I am so pleased to have achieved it.

"I’ve not had the opportunity to compete at the London Aquatic Centre yet, so I’m really excited!

I’m very grateful for the support my coach has given me over the last few years to help me get to this point. Fingers crossed I can do him, and Bradford proud.”

Andrew Pearce, Senior Coach at Bradford Aquatics, said: “I’m so proud of Sophia on gaining a qualification time for this April’s British Championships and Olympic trials.

“Her qualification is testament to her ongoing attitude and her application both in training and at competition.

“She is an excellent role model to the other swimmers in her squad and I would like to wish her good luck in the upcoming Olympic Trials in London at the beginning of April”.

The 16-year-old is the first Bradford swimmer to qualify for the Olympic Trials since Sian Morgan in 2012, and although Sian narrowly missed out on representing TeamGB, she did represent her country at the Commonwealth Games in 2010 and 2014.

The Olympic trials will take place at the London Aquatic Centre, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park from April 2 to 7, 2024.