Golden haul for GB ace Jamie

Photo: PICTURE: ANTHONY MILLER

MASTER STROKE. . . . Jamie Kelly scythes through the water.

OLDHAM Aquatics swimmer Jamie Kelly has plundered four gold medals for Great Britain in the South American Special Olympics.

The 22 year old, a qualified swimming teacher, dazzled during the event in Puerto Rico.

His family funded the £1,200 trip for Jamie, who trains children with learning difficulties at Cheshire Penguins in Northwich, Rochdale Swimming Club and Redwood Special School.

Mark Lord, who coaches Jamie at Oldham Aquatics, said: “Jamie lives for swimming. His dedication and the support available at Oldham Aquatics and Oldham Community Leisure has made all the difference to his medal tally.

Jamie, who has learning difficulties, qualified fastest for the final in all three of his events — the 100 metres individual medley, 200m breaststroke and 400m freestyle.

He went on to take gold in each event, finishing the 200m breaststroke in 3mins 29.39sec, 400m freestyle in 5:39.63 and 100m individual medley in 1:24.06. The fourth gold was for the freestyle relay, in which he swam the butterfly leg and helped Great Britain to win by more than 14 seconds.

The wins come months after Jamie, current British record-holder in 400m freestyle, bagged two gold and two silver medals in the National Swimming Championships for swimmers with learning difficulties.