Large dose of pride as swim star claims gold
Coach thrilled by Emily’s GB pool success
A YOUNGSTER from Tyneside has swam her way to glory with Team GB, writes SAM BLACKLOCK.
Emily Large, 16, a member of Newcastle Swim Team, struck gold in Indianapolis where she was competing at the World Junior Championships.
Her medal is the latest in a string of in-the-pool successes for the Kings Priory School student, who hopes to represent Team GB at next year’s Commonwealth Games in Australia.
Ryan Livingston, head coach at Newcastle Swim Club said: “I am extremely proud of Emily and her achievements.
“Not only is she exceptionally successful in the pool, she is very professional and a great role model for younger swimmers.
“She has achieved her success off the back of dedication, commitment and perseverance.”
He added: “I started coaching Emily three years ago.
“She had just finished 14th at the National Championships in her age group.
“Within six months she was British champion in her age group and within a year was a European Youth Olympics silver medalist.”
In the 2015-2016 season, Large finished third at the Olympic trials and became European Junior champion two years young.
This summer has been her most successful ever, not just becoming world junior champion but also recording a Commonwealth Games qualifying time.
This year Ponteland-based Large has also competed at the 2017 FINA World Junior Championships qualifying for finals in the 50m, 100m and 200m butterfly and breaking the nine-year record for the 200m butterfly.
Livingstone said: “Emily has all the attributes necessary to be successful at the highest level.
“She has set herself challenging goals I am very confident she will achieve them.
“To put her current performance into context, her best time in the 200m butterfly was only two seconds away from the winning time at this summer’s Senior World Championships.
“She is still only 16 and there is a lot more to come from her.”
Proud mum Jenny said: “Emily first started swimming lessons at her local leisure centre and always seemed to love the water.
“She was 11 before she took up the sport competitively and then three years ago she joined Newcastle Swim Club.
“She has gone from strength to strength under Ryan’s guidance and now she just wants to go as far as she can in the sport.
“To go from not even having a national qualifying time three years ago to winning a gold medal at the World Junior Championships is just remarkable.”
Large is one of Sport Newcastle’s three current Sport Scholars and spokesman Mike Booth said: “Emily is a remarkable talent, very selfeffacing, extremely dedicated to her sport and a fantastic ambassador for swimming, her school and the region.”