TEENAGER Sam Downie was celebrating an unexpected bronze medal at the Manchester World Championships last night (Tuesday).

After a slightly disappointing result on Monday, where the swimmer placed seventh in the 400m freestyle, the Musselburgh Amateur Swimming Club member was keen to put things right in the S8 100m backstroke.

And he did just that with a personal best time of 1:08.36, enough to take home a bronze medal.

Sam, 17, told Scottish Swimming after the event: “Post-race [on Monday], I found it difficult to find the positives but after a few chats I took the positives from it and used [it] to push me on to just get me over the line.

“I was hoping for a wee bit quicker but I can’t complain with a bronze medal!

 

 

“Coming into the race I thought bronze was anyone’s really.

"The guys in first and second (Inigo Llopis Sanz and Kuta Kubota) are veterans and they’re well ahead so it’s a pleasure to share a podium with them.

“This year has been a challenge so I just used everything that hasn’t gone right for me and used that to pull me over the line.

"The last 25 metres I could hear the roar of the crowd and I knew it was close, it just came down to who wanted it more, and I knew that I wanted it!”

East Lothian Courier: Sam was pictured with his bronze medal as well as a bee model, the mascot for the tournamentSam was pictured with his bronze medal as well as a bee model, the mascot for the tournament

Sam’s mum Gillian and sister Rebecca were watching on from the sidelines as he won the medal.

Gillian told Courier Sport: “We couldn’t believe it when he won [bronze].

"It was so unexpected.

"There was certainly a lot of jumping around from us in the crowd!

“For him to win a medal like that at 17 is just incredible.

"We are all so proud of him.

“I know he was disappointed on Monday and was quite a bit off his personal best time.

"But I think it shows an incredible mental strength to turn that around in less than 24 hours and win the bronze.”

READ MORE: Swimming star Sam Downie narrowly misses out on national award

While Sam’s individual races are complete for the competition, he hopes to be selected as part of the relay team which competes on Friday and over the weekend.

Gillian said Sam was in with “a good chance” of being selected but that teams would not be announced until nearer the time.

Sam will be taking some time off when he returns home before training in the hopes of making the Paralympic squad for 2024.

Gillian said: “Sam will get his exam results next week and he’ll be taking a few weeks off after to recover from the events.

“He’ll then be back training with the hope of making the Paralympic squad.

"It is not every day a 17-year-old wins a bronze medal, so hopefully that helps him get a place.”