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Golden boy

Bill McLaughlin
24/ 7/2008

GLOBETROTTING Salford swimming sensation James Doolan struck gold at the FINA World Youth Championships in Mexico – and he is hoping for more success in Serbia next week.

The 18-year-old from Irlam o’ th’ Height helped Great Britain’s 100 metres medley relay team smash a world youth record by five seconds.

Doolan and his teammates clocked four minutes 41 seconds in romping to gold medal glory.

And Doolan, who is currently on a swimming scholarship in Australia, also broke a British age group record in the individual 50m butterfly semi-finals. He finished the race in 24.35 seconds but came fifth in the final.

Former Buile Hill High School pupil Doolan was also fourth in the 100m butterfly final and he will be joined on the plane to the 2008 Junior European Swimming Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, next week by fellow City of Salford Swimming Club member Luke Wood.

Seventeen-year-old ex-Irlam and Cadishead Community High School pupil Wood from Irlam will be competing in the 200m individual medley and the 200m backstroke and he has set his sights on making at least the semi-finals in both events.

Doolan is hoping to return to Australia after the championships having won ‘a medal or two’ in the 100m and 50m butterfly events and the medley relay race.

He said: "I am feeling a bit tired at the moment but it was fantastic to get a gold medal in the FINA World Youth Championships.

"My scholarship in Australia is going really well and I hope to make the podium in Serbia."

Wood said: "It’s brilliant to represent Great Britain. I am really looking forward to the European Championships and will be trying my very best to reach the finals."