Dan Jervis. Pic: Getty Images.

Dan Powers To British Title Then Gives Thanks To All That Jazz

By Liz Byrnes

Dan Jervis revealed the inspiration he takes from former Olympic and world medallist Jazz Carlin after he claimed a comprehensive 400m freestyle victory at the British Swimming Championships in Glasgow.

Jervis led for all but the first 100m at Tollcross International Swimming Centre to win by 4.64secs from Kieran Bird, of Bath National Centre, in a new personal best of 3mins 47.57secs.

The Swansea University swimmer cut 0.51secs from his previous best from the 2018 Commonwealth Games although it was outside the consideration time for the World Championships this summer in Gwangju, South Korea.

The 22-year-old has the 800m and 1500m – in which he is a double Commonwealth medallist – to come and he tipped his hat to two very successful Welsh distance swimmers.

He said: “I have got a lot of people to look up to and one of them is (former Olympic and world medallist) David Davies. What a Welsh legend!

“And you have got people like Jazz Carlin: I know Jazz and she is such a good role model to us. Not only me because ever since I was a little boy I have looked up to Jazz and even now the younger ones who are swimming look at her. And I am just like – that is what I want to be when I am older.”

Double Olympic silver medallist Jazz Carlin may have retired but is still inspiring Welsh swimmers.

Carlin has retired from both the pool and open water but she is leaving a legacy as Jervis related, citing her as a role model in a sport where men and women train alongside each other.

“We all have to work exactly the same,” he said. “We have to work just as hard as everyone, male or female.

“She is an amazing athlete – to be honest all Welsh swimmers are. I am very biased towards Wales, I love being Welsh!

“You watch Alys Thomas, what an athlete and I train with Alys and it’s a good laugh.”

Of the race he said: “It was okay, I am happy with that. I am glad it is over, I was nervous. I always get nervous – I get really nervous in the Arena League or something. If you muck up everyone knows who you are.

“What we have been working on this year is to concentrate on this competition. We’ll start concentrating on worlds – hopefully if I make it – the day I finish this competition so I will have a little bit of a rest and then as soon as I get back into the water that is going to be my main aim.”

Alys Thomas was fourth in the 200m freestyle, locked out of the podium by 0.10secs in 1:59.50.

The 29-year-old caused ripples among the swimming world at last year’s Commonwealth Games on Gold Coast when she won the 200m butterfly in a time that saw her jostling with those at the head of the world table.

Thomas was fifth at the final turn, 0.65secs adrift of Georgia Coates in third, and although she overhauled Kathryn Greenslade and ate remorselessly into the Bath swimmer’s lead, it was just not enough.

Thomas was a member of the Welsh 4x200m freestyle relay team that came fifth at the 2018 Commonwealth Games although the combined times of the first four women home at Tollcross places them just outside the consideration time for Gwangju.

Liam White, of Swansea University, came third in the 50m backstroke in 25.60, two places ahead of City of Cardiff’s Xavier Castelli (25.80) who at 29 was the oldest male swimmer of the evening and second overall behind 30-year-old Hannah Miley.

 

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