Olympic swimmer Aimee set to take on America's finest

A Teesside Olympian is set to take on some of America’s finest swimmers, fresh from returning home from Europe with a medal after setting new records.

Aimee Willmott returned from Denmark this week with a European Short-Course Championship bronze medal, having set a new English national record time in the 400m individual medley.

The Teesside University BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise (Coaching Science) student has represented Great Britain at both the Olympics and World Championships.

Her success in Denmark came just days after Aimee broke the English national 400m individual medley long-course record while competing for Middlesbrough Amateur Swimming Club in Amsterdam.

Aimee is now due to take part in the Duel in the Pool, chosen to compete in a European team against some of America’s top swimmers. Billed as the Ultimate Swimming Showdown, the US versus European Allstars event takes place on December 20 and 21 in Glasgow.

Aimee said: 'It’s great to think that I’m now an English record holder for long course and short course 400m individual medley. It was quite a surprise to achieve both in the space of a week.

'I felt confident that I’d do well at Denmark, but didn’t think I would break the record with the margin that I did.'

Aimee, who is part of Teesside University’s elite athlete scheme, said: 'I was selected to compete for Europe in Duel in the Pool because of my ranking and I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in and competing against the American swimmers. To be up there with them is really exciting.'

She will compete in the 200m butterfly, 200m individual medley and 400m individual medley.

Aimee is Middlesbrough’s most successful swimmer since Jack Hatfield a century ago and has her sights set firmly on competing in the Rio Olympics in 2016.

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