Golden swimming couple make a winning splash

Tavistock Swimming Club is celebrating triple medal success at the 2026 Masters National Championships.

Tavistock swimmer Sam Lake celebrated a successful weekend (October 24-25) at the Sheffield meet, winning gold and silver medals, while her husband James impressed with two season PBs and a silver medal in a fiercely contested relay.

Sam competed against the country's leading masters swimmers, producing two impressive performances in distance freestyle events.

Entering the 400m freestyle seeded fourth, she exceeded expectations to claim silver medal with a season's best time 5min and 0.22sec, narrowly missing the five-minute barrier. This follows a bout of flu and months of dedicated distance training.

On the same day, having competed in the 100m individual medley, Sam entered the 800m freestyle, hoping to challenge for the national title.

Producing a strong, consistent swim, she finished the first 400m in 5 minutes 6 seconds before finishing in 10min 16.04sec to win gold and was crowned national age group champion.

This was another successful national championship appearance for Sam, who continues to compete at high level in masters swimming and international aquathlon (swimming/running).

James, a Devonport Swimming Club coach, achieved season's best times in the 100m individual medley and 100m butterfly.

His relay team scooped a silver medal in a highly competitive race which included a new world record by the winning team, highlighting the exceptional standard of competition.

The couple's achievements reflect their commitment to competitive swimming, balancing training and coaching responsibilities with their professional and family lives.

The championships provided an important confidence boost ahead of Sam’s next major international challenge.

After her European Aquathlon Championships gold in Banyoles, Spain, this year, she is training to represent GB at the World Aquathlon Championships, Abu Dhabi, November 13-22, in the women's 45–49 age group.

With national swimming medals and another international championship approaching, it has been a very successful year for the Tavistock primary school teacher.