Golden success for Jack Skerry as University of Bath students impress at European Aquatics U23 Swimming Championships
Jack Skerry stormed to victory and there were medals for fellow sporting scholars Cameron Brooker and Matthew Ward as University of Bath students excelled at the European Aquatics U23 Swimming Championships in Samorin, Slovakia.
Computer Science student Skerry, supported by a US Foundation sports scholarship, was half-a-second clear of the field as he took 100m backstroke gold in 53.35. He was joined on the podium by Aquatics GB Bath Performance Centre training partner Ward, who claimed bronze in 54.29.
“Standing up there on the podium with Matt was very special and it’s great for the British team,” said Skerry. “I haven’t had a lot of international experience so coming here, getting in those finals and competing with the best really boosts my confidence going into future meets.”
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It was a second medal of the meet for Bill Whiteley Scholar Ward, who led off for the British mixed 4x100m medley relay quartet that won silver on the opening night in 3:48.27 – just two-hundredths of a second behind winners Poland.
Ivor Powell Scholar Brooker, who studies Mechanical Engineering, was also on the podium twice as he won bronze in both the 200m backstroke (1:58.45) and mixed 4x100m freestyle relay (3:27.93). He narrowly missed out on a third medal in the 50m backstroke (25.06), being pipped to bronze by four-hundredths of a second. Skerry was seventh in both the 50m and 200m backstroke finals.
Civil Engineering student Niamh Ward enjoyed an excellent British debut, making the final of all three of her backstroke races as she finished fifth over 100m (1:01.46), sixth over 200m (2:12.35) and seventh over 50m (28.97). Ward is a member of the Student Performance Sport swimming squad and supported in her dual careers by the Team Bath Breakthrough Programme.
Applications are now open to high-performing student-athletes for both the Breakthrough Programme and Sporting Scholarships for the 2025-26 academic year. Visit teambath.com/athlete-zone for more information.
Pictured top: Jack Skerry (centre) and Matthew Ward (right) on the podium following their 100m backstroke medal success. PICTURE CREDIT: Simone Castrovillari / European Aquatics.
