Golden boy Nic top of the Pyle
HAVING splashed on Euro glory, golden boy Nicholas Pyle is ready to take on the world in 2019, writes TONY HODGSON.
Newcastle Swim Team’s Pyle was part of the triumphant Great Britain 4 x 100 metres relay squad at the European Championships in Glasgow.
The 18-year-old swam the opening backstroke leg of the final, teaming up with world, Olympic and European breaststroke champion Adam Peaty, James Guy and Duncan Scott to clinch gold.
Not only that - but the St Cuthbert’s School youngster set a new personal-best time and a British record in anchoring the winning squad.
Buoyed by that success, the talented teenager hopes to be top of the Pyle at next year World Championships - and then the Olympic Games in 2020.
Glaswegian glory was the highlight of a busy but hugely-successful year for Pyle, which included claiming a bronze medal in the 100 metres backstroke at the European Nicholas Pyle (far right) with his gold medal after being part of the victorious GB men’s 4 x 100 medley relay squad at the European Championships in Glasgow Junior Championships in Helsinki. He also secured a creditable fourth place in the 50m backstroke achieving new personal-best times in both events.
Pyle was also part of the GB mixed medley relay team which won silver, being joined on the podium by fellow Newcastle Swim Team member Emily Large.
2018 also saw him clinch his first senior national title, triumphing in the 50 metres backstroke at the British Swimming Championships in Edinburgh.
Still competing at that time as a junior against senior opposition, Pyle prevailed in a time of 25.63 seconds and was also just out of the senior medals in the 100 and 200 backstroke.
He said: “2018 was a really good year for me, much better than I envisaged when it started.
“I am really satisfied with what I have achieved and I feel my swimming has come on enormously.
“The European Juniors was great but the highlight had to be the European Championships.
“To be selected for GB and swim in front of a home crowd was good enough.
“To come home with a gold medal was just awesome.
“It was fantastic to swim in the same team as Adam Peaty - he is a legend and I learned so much from him.”
Pyle’s Glasgow run-out was a fourth international call-up inside a year but his first at senior level.
Now the Newcastle youngster’s New Year resolution is to build on those successes in 2019.
He added: “I just want to continue to improve, work hard and bring my times down as much as I can.
“My main target this year is the World Championships in South Korea and there will be trials for those in April.
“Then in 2020 I would love to go to the Olympic Games.”