Nick Pyle, who came home with two golds at the European Long Course Championships last year, will return to Glasgow hungry to add LEN Short Course glory to his tally after emerging as one of the young British stars to watch.
The 18-year-old – who specialises in backstroke – enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2018, putting his name on the map with maiden senior wins at national and international level.
Gold in the 50m backstroke at the British Championships that year earned him a spot in the 4x100m Medley team at the Europeans, and he swam the opening leg of the final on their way to glory while also picking up the top prize for his part in the 4x100m Mixed Medley team’s success.
The University of Stirling star began competitive swimming aged eight and until September 2019 belonged to local club Newcastle Swim Team.
Having competed on the global stage as a junior at the FINA World Junior Championships in 2017 – where he finished seventh and eighth in the 50m and 100m Backstroke events respectively – Pyle continued his progress by making the British senior team for the 2019 World Aquatics Championships.
A 26th-place finish in the heats of the 50m backstroke in Gwangju demonstrated the youngster can mix it with the best, and his progress has been recognised with Pyle being handed Sport Newcastle’s Rising Star award in 2018, and the 2019 Sport Newcastle Young Sporting Achievement of the Year award.
Ahead of the LEN European Short Course Championships in Scotland, Pyle acknowledged the vast progress he has made in such a short space of time, while insisting he has no plans to lie down yet.
He said: “I’m really satisfied with what I’ve achieved, and I feel my swimming has come on enormously. To be selected for GB and swim alongside the likes of Adam Peaty is fantastic.
“I just want to continue to improve, work hard and bring my times down as much as I can. In 2020 I would love to go to the Olympic Games.”
With another chance to showcase his undoubted talent on the senior international stage, Pyle will be vying to further eat into his personal bests and establish himself as a contender in the Great Britain team.
Follow Nick on social
Twitter – @NicholasPyle1
Instagram – @nicholaspyle
Short Course Personal Bests
50m Backstroke – 24.24
100m Backstroke – 52.68
200m Backstroke – 1:54.05
Fun Fact – Pyle considers a pork and chickpea curry among his signature post-workout meals.