REDDITCH Swimming Club men’s captain Paul Wilkes performed superbly to win a silver medal at the FINA World Masters Championships in Hungary.
The 17th version of the event was held in Budapest and, swimming in his first World Championships, Wilkes competed in the 30 to 34-year age group, racing against swimmers from around the world including a former Olympic gold medallist.
He started with the 100m butterfly in which he came a respectable sixth in a time of 57.72 and his next swim was the 200m butterfly in which he swam an impressive race, eventually winning a silver medal.
Wilkes currently holds the British Masters swimming record in the 200m butterfly for the 30 to 34-year age group and won two gold medals in the 100m and 200m butterfly events at the London 2016 European Masters Aquatics Championships and two national titles (100m and 200m butterfly) at the British Gas ASA National Masters Championships.
“I am delighted to have competed in the FINA World Masters Championships in Budapest and to have won a silver medal in my age group (30 to 34 years) in the 200m butterfly, particularly against so many high class athletes,” said Wilkes.
“I am extremely grateful to everyone who has contributed to this success and I am very thankful for the support and encouragement of everyone at Redditch Swimming Club.”
