Penarth swimmer set for London 2012

Penarth swimmer Ieuan Lloyd booked his place at the Olympics last night after finishing second in the 200m freestyle at the British Gas Swimming Championships.

Lloyd's performance saw him qualify for the 4x200m relay team after winning a silver medal at the tournament.

Speaking to the BBC after the swim, he said: “It’s amazing, I can’t even describe. It’s every kid's dream to get into the Olympics and now I have done. I have put so much work in and now it has paid off.

“Its been a great atmosphere and I have performed at every race I have done. I have got a personal best every time I have swam now. It’s just unbelievable.”

But Lloyd finished behind Robbie Renwick in the 200m freestyle event at the Aquatics Centre in Stratford clocking a time of 1.47.68 which put him outside the Olympic qualifying standard for the individual swim.

Lloyd will now take part in the second chance trials at Ponds Forge, Sheffield, in June where he will also compete for the remaining 400m individual spot.

The 18-year-old is a member of the City of Cardiff Swimming Club and is the eighth Welshman to qualify for the Olympics.

Following in the footsteps of Hannah Mills (Sailing), Andrew Selby  (Boxing) and Fred Evans (Boxing), he is the fourth Cardiff-based athlete to make the Olympic sqaud.

The former Stanwell pupil faces tough competition to make the GB team for the 200m and 400m freestyle events with only two swimmers picked to represent the nation for any one Olympic event. He is currently ranked fourth in both in the UK.

The British Gas Swimming Championships was Lloyd’s first venture into senior competitions, after making waves as a junior swimmer.

In 2011, he won gold for the 200m at the European Youth Olympic Festival and at the European Junior Championships where he won the 200m Individual Medley and the 4x200m freestyle relay.

He also won the 200m freestyle, 200m individual medley and 4x200m freestyle relay at last year’s Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle of Man.

The British Swimming Association and the British Olympic Association will choose the final squad for the London 2012 Olympics based on athletes form and fitness but if the Olympic

Qualifying Time is met and a finish in the top two places at the GB trials is secured then chances of selection are strong.