Nick, 12, won the Midlands 11-year boys overall title last year and after some stiff competition finished runner-up in the 12-year boys overall competition this year.

He won gold medals in the 100m and 200m breastroke, silver medals in the 100m and 200m backstroke and bronze medals in the 100m and 400m freestyle.

Nick also achieved a qualifying time (2m24.48sec) to compete in the 200m backstroke at the nationals in July against the best 13-year-old boys in the country.

Nick, who attends school in Oakham and lives in nearby Melton, said: “The competition this year was really tough with top boys from six counties competing.

“I was really pleased to get my national qualifying time and look forward to facing the best swimmers in the country in four weeks time."

His dad, Bryan, added: “The boys are all at different stages of development at the moment. Getting to Nationals has moved him onto the next level.”

Nick trains six times a week with City of Leicester Swimming Club and is a regular member of the county Squad.