Teenager Lawrence Lowman recently competed at the ASA National Swimming Championships (50m) in Liverpool.The 18-year-old, who lives in Beccles, is a member of the Performance 1 Squad at Lowestoft and Oulton Broad Swimming Club.

Teenager Lawrence Lowman recently competed at the ASA National Swimming Championships (50m) in Liverpool.

The 18-year-old, who lives in Beccles, is a member of the Performance 1 Squad at Lowestoft and Oulton Broad Swimming Club. In the pool he has made some eye-catching performances over the last six months and in February broke a tough county record.

Shortly afterwards he suffered an injury for the first time in his career which meant he had to reduce his training workload.

Despite this interruption, by early June he was fully back into the swing of things and was on some days doing three pool sessions a day to regain fitness.

The ASA Nationals, held in the country's newest 50m pool, brought together the elite swimmers from England and Wales including those who are representing GB at the Olympics in August.

Lowman, who is renowned for his endurance abilities but in the past has struggled on the shorter distances, showed how he had addressed this issue by qualifying for 400m freestyle for the first time in his career at national level. He finished a respectable 48th.

The following day he competed in the 800m freestyle against 2004 Olympic medallist David Davies. Throughout the 800, Lowman kept his pacing very consistent and finished with a strong last 200 in 21st place.

It wasn't until his last event however, where Lowman really shone, and that was in the 1500m freestyle.

He kept a level head throughout, almost negative splitting, and finished just outside the top 10 in 11th place.

Pleased with his performance, Lowman commented: “I was disappointed with the 400 and the 800 but pleased with the 1500. I'm glad to be back into my racing and would like to thank Sharon Howell, my physio based in Gorleston, as well as my coach Simon Pickering for their continued support.”

For more information about Lowestoft and Oulton Broad Swimming Club, contact Jill Walker on 01502 740359.