David looks to improve record in 2006 (From Barry And District News)

David looks to improve record in 2006

BARRY swim star David Davies is looking forward to 2006 as the year when he has the chance to improve on the three bronze medals he has already won at major championships.

David, aged 20, was among the first Welsh competitors to be selected to take his seat on the plane for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne this March.

The City of Cardiff Club and international long distance man will be making his second Commonwealth Games appearance, following his impressive debut in 2002 when he claimed the bronze in Manchester.

He followed this up by winning an Olympic bronze in Athens in 2004, and last year he confirmed his talent with another bronze at the World Championships in Montreal.

He also set a new Welsh record in the 800m freestyle in Montreal, when he finished sixth in a time of 7.51.54.

But his best hopes in Melbourne lie in his favourite event, the 1,500m freestyle.

It was in this discipline that he claimed his bronze in Montreal, when he finished in a superb time of 14:18:11.

Afterwards he said: I am delighted with the bronze medal and my time because my aim was to go under 14 mins 50 secs.

The Aussie coach was telling my coach I was going to get fourth. He said I was too small, not strong enough and I was going to be the bridesmaid. My coach told me this minutes before the race. I didn t want to hear it but it was a good incentive.

It is a fair bet that no-one will be silly enough to write off David again, when he lines up in Melbourne in just over two months time.