Gold medal success in the British Championships came as no surprise to Essex swimmer James Gibson.

Loughborough University student James, 19, was ranked third in the country in the 50m breaststroke before last week's event at Sheffield.

In the semi-final he broke his personal best time recording 28.78. He then went on to clinch first place in the final.

He also won silver medals in the 100m breaststroke and the medley relay.

Gibson, of Ashby Road, Witham, said: "Everyone thought it was a surprise I won. But it wasn't for me. I have been training hard and I knew I could do it.

"I had been injured but I put some good times in at the national championships in July."

The Witham Dolphin has now been selected to swim for England in the World Cup in France and Sweden in February.

James, a former pupil at Witham's Howbridge and John Bramston schools, is also hoping to secure a World Championship place but has to wait on the British selection committee.

His next target is the Olympic selection trials for the 100m breaststroke where he will be up against the British record holder Darren Mew, and Alan Whitehead who has recorded the second fastest time ever in the 200m breaststroke.

He said: It's going to be tough but I will be training hard and I am looking foward to it."

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