AIB Tigers’ 15-year-old Tom Gallichan swam a two-second personal best in the 200m backstroke at the British Championships and Olympic Trials at Pond’s Forge, Sheffield, last night.

Touching home in his new long course time of 2 minutes 14.40 seconds the youngster can be justifiably proud of his efforts.

Tigers coach Nathan Jegou said: ‘Despite finishing at the bottom end of his age group, Tom has excelled with a PB.

‘His performance I’m sure will give him a big boost for the rest of the season. There are some quality swimmers here and Tom is continually talking about some of the things they do so he is certainly learning.

‘World and Commonwealth Games medallist Liam Tancock broke the 50m world record in the 200m backstroke at the 50m split and as well as that record we’ve seen ten British and four Commonwealth Games new times achieved this week.’

Tancock’s touched the wall at 50m in 24.47 seconds break the current record by almost half a second.

De La Salle College pupil Gallichan was the only Islander to quality for the trials in Sheffield.