A Chingford teenager won gold and a bronze in the pool at the Youth National Championships, capping a year of unparalleled success.

Ryan Nicholls, 16 and from Chingford, won gold in the 100m backstroke and claimed bronze in the 200m freestyle at the championships earlier this month.

It has been an exceptional season for Nicholls, winning medals at the Sainsbury’s UK Youth Games, the DSE Internationals, the DSE Junior Nationals, the British Internationals, the London Youth Championships and the British Gas Internationals.

A member of Redbridge Swimming Club, where he has been based for four years, Nicholls also came away from the European Junior Championships in the Netherlands with four silver medals whilst representing Team GB.

Nicholls clinched silver medals in the 100m backstroke, 100m freestyle, 100m butterfly and 50m freestyle events in Dordecht, setting new personal bests in all four events.

Brother Reece has had a similarly successful season, winning silver with a personal best in the 50m freestyle at the London Youth Games last month whilst representing Waltham Forest, as well as competing for London at the English Schools Swimming Association (ESSA) National Championships in June.

Reece won gold in the 4x100m relay after taking bronze in the 100m backstroke in a personal best time of 1.04.62.