New sponsor backs swimming hero's medal bid (From Barry And District News)

New sponsor backs swimming hero's medal bid

BARRY'S Olympic medalist swimmer David Davies is set for action this weekend - hoping to bring back gold for Great Britain in the world championships in Canada.

David, aged 20, is currently ranked second in the world in his event - 1500m freestyle - and holds the British and European record at 14.45.95 seconds, a time he achieved when winning the bronze medal at the Athens Olympics.

He trains for five hours each day - alternating his time between the Welsh National Pool in Swansea and the Welsh Institute of Sport in Cardiff - and swims on average 80,000m per week.

David started swimming when he was just five years old, when his mother sent him to local lessons in Barry.

He started competing at seven, has been competing for Cardiff since he was eight and became a full-time swimmer when he completed his A-Levels in July 2003.

David is one of 16 swimmers representing Great Britain in Canada and competes on Sunday, July 31, following heats on Saturday.

And to help him achieve his goals, David has a new sponsor - Principality, Wales's largest building society.

David said: "It's difficult for swimmers to get financial support, so it has given me a great boost to have the backing of a Welsh business like Principality."

Tracy Morshead, managing director of the society, said: "We are committed to celebrating and supporting everything that is great about Wales - and David is a fantastic example of this.

"We are delighted to be his official sponsor and to be able to help him bring back a gold medal to Wales from the 2008 Beijing Olympics.