Hard work paying off for teen swimmer

But a 13-year-old Shropshire swimmer is proving hard work pays off, after earning a place at a prestigious competition being held in Egypt.

Kareem El Degwy leaves his home in Calverhall, near Whitchurch, at 5.30am most days and doesn't get home until late. He trains six days a week, swimming 25 miles a week.

But all that effort has been worth it with Kareem having flown out to compete at the Egyptian National Swimming Championships for the first time.

The youngster, who is a year nine pupil at Thomas Adams School in Wem, has been given special permission to fly to Cairo for the competition this week.

He said: "I am very excited. I do a lot of training and have worked very hard to get here. I love swimming and taking part in competitions across the UK but this is now another step up.

"I feel like I am ready for it, I am looking forward to the experience. I dream to be an Olympic champion, that is what I am chasing."

Kareem will compete in the freestyle, breaststroke and individual medley competitions.

As a member of Ellesmere Titans swimming club, he trains at Ellesmere College pool before and after school six days a week – his only day off is a Saturday.

Kareem, whose mum Nicole is British and dad Ash Egyptian, has the opportunity to represent either country.

He will soon have to decide if he wants to enter the African Junior Championships and Arab Nations Championships, or represent England. But he has not always been this dedicated to swimming.

Dad Ash said: "For a while he thought he was missing out on doing things with friends.

"For about eight months, he didn't swim and instead I dropped him off to go and hang out with his friends in Wem.

"But all of a sudden he felt like he was really missing it and started again in November last year.

"He came back really well, quicker than his coaches thought. They expected it to take a couple of years to get to the level he is at now.

"I am very glad of that break he had from swimming, it changed his attitude towards the sport. He is so hungry for it, he is working three times as hard as he did before."

Most races across the UK last three days and Kareem has to fit his school work around this, with Ash adding: "He is working with great head coaches, they train the kids to be champions.

"This opportunity to go to Egypt is very exciting, it is good to compete on an international level and see swimmers from other countries.

"We wouldn't be able to do anything without the school though, they are very supportive and understanding. It has been absolutely fantastic from day one."