FORMER Okehampton College Student and Okehampton Otter, Dominic Wooldridge, claimed the prestigious title of double national champion at the ASA National Swimming Championships in Sheffield.

The medical student, who now captains Exeter City Swimming Club, qualified over all three butterfly distances, 200m, 100m and 50m, but it was over the shorter distances where he found his success.

Dominating his preferred 100m event, Wooldridge produced a breath-taking second half to take his first national title in a new personal best of 54.39 seconds.  The 50m event was a much closer contest, with Wooldridge taking the lead on his last stroke to take the title by 0.04seconds.  Also competing in the 400m freestyle, Dominic touched fourth to narrowly miss out on bronze by 0.14seconds. 

Part of the Exeter 4 x 200m freestyle relay team, Wooldridge was trusted with the opening swim and delivered with a personal best of 1.55.27, transferring to his team-mates in first place. However, it was not to be as the team finished sixth.

Dominic told the Times: ‘It’s nice to see the work is starting to pay off! Going into the 100m I knew I had a slim chance, but to come home with gold is a nice surprise. The 50m is a complete shock! I’m not known for my raw speed and most of my opponents stand three inches taller than me, so to win this sprint event was a complete surprise.

‘I have to thank my coach, Jo John, who I drive mad during every training session, but I couldn’t have done it without her.’

Next up for Dom is the British University National Champion-ships in November before the National Winter Championships in December.