Backed by National Lottery funding from Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust, the Sainsbury’s 2012 School Games was a multi-sport event for 1,600 elite young athletes. The Games took place from 6-9 May 2012 with the Olympic Stadium, Velodrome and Aquatics Centre at the Olympic Park amongLondonvenues hosting the competition.
The competing athletes were representing 8 UK zones, England North, South, East and Central, Scotland North West and South East,Wales and Ireland. Katie and Kyri were representing England East. As the next host nation of the Olympics 2016,Brazil also sent a team adding an even more exciting edge to the competition.
The atmosphere in the Aquatics Centre was electric as more and more parents, supporters and class after class of school children, given the day off school to be inspired, made their way to their seats. The noise was deafening as Sarah Price roused the crowd with ‘The louder you cheer, the faster they swim!’
Katie was first to swim her 100 backstroke, coming 4th in a new PB of 1.05.54. Kyri’s 200 breaststroke gave him a 7th place in 2.36.10. Katie swam on her PB for the 4×100 freestyle relay to help England East to a bronze medal but they were beaten into 4th place in the 4×200 freestyle relay.
Kyri was close to his PB in the 100 breaststroke only just missing out on a medal. We will shall skip past Katie’s 200IM where she was DQ ‘d for her back to breast turn but she reprieved herself by leading off the Girl’s medley relay team to another bronze.
Although by this time some of the swimmers were showing some tiredness from the busy itinerary over the 4-day games, Kyri bucked the trend by swimming his best swim of the games in the Boys’ medley relay. He recorded a time of 1.10.87 in the 100 breaststroke leg, helping his team to a 4th place finish.
In the evening all 1,600 athletes who competed in the Games headed over to the Basketball Arena to enjoy a fantastic closing ceremony with performances from the Cover Drive ( No. 1 hit with ‘Twilight’) and BGT gymnastic troupe Spellbound and messages of support from Prince Harry and David Beckham. A great time was had by all !!!
Thanet Swim Club 
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