REECE BARCLAY underlined his status as one of the country's most promising swimmers with a devastating performance at the Essex Winter Championships recently.
The 19-year-old scooped four winners' medals in the pool at the illustrious event in Braintree, storming to victory in the 50m, 100, 200 and 400 senior freestyle races.
The display should come as little surprise, given that Barclay has already begun to make his mark on the national stage, having raced against some of England's leading lights in the sport.
However, what makes the Waltham Forest Gator's achievement all the more remarkable is the fact that he has been swimming for just four years.
A talented all-round sportsman, Barclay is a black belt karate star and was also competing in national competitions at squash until swimming took over his life.
Both sports have had to take a permanent back seat as he pours all his efforts in to attempting to make it as a professional swimmer, with sponsorship a major stumbling block if he is to realise his goal of representing his country at the Olympic Games.
“I want to represent my country one day,” Barclay told Guardian Series Sport. “I'm not sure if I'm close enough for 2012 but I'm racing against high standard national swimmers.
“They do it for a career, while I'm juggling my career. I hope to turn professional but I just need sponsorship.”
The career he is currently embarking on is in carpentry, and he is currently an apprentice with his father's firm.
But his impressive performances in the pool have already helped secure him a boost in the form of free membership at Krunch gym in Waltham Abbey, where Barclay trains rigorously to keep him in top shape for competitions.
As long as the results keep coming, then he will continue to have free reign of the gym's facilities, which he insists has come as a huge fillip for his career prospects.
“Krunch have given me a free membership and that will be extended as long as I keep getting results,” said Barclay. “It's really helped me out because it's essential for me and it can become very expensive.” He is trained there by Arram Eghoyan, a world champion powerlifter whose own progress has been charted in these pages.
Barclay's schedule outside the pool is tough, but in the water it is truly arduous. He is up at 5am and will train for two hours, before heading to work until 4pm. Then it's back to the pool for two more hours of training; a routine he repeats three times a week.
It is all essential work if Barclay is to fulfil his potential as a world-class performer, although he insists he owes much to his parents and coach Mike Bush.
“My parents have been so supportive of me. My dad made a big commitment by getting up early to take me to training and I'm very grateful. My coach has also really helped me a lot.”
Only time will tell if all the hard work will pay off, but Barclay has certainly made a blistering start to what could be a highly successful career.
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