Eight-year-old award-winning swimmer Tom Narborough will meet Olympic gold medallist Duncan Goodhew this summer.

Tom, from Jackson Avenue, Rochester, has been nominated for a Southern Water Learn to Swim Achiever of the Year award.

The awards are presented annually for children who overcome particular difficulties in their efforts to learn to swim.

Tom was a slow learner. But dogged determination and persistence enabled him to become an excellent competitive swimmer.

Derek Wickens, his instructor at the City of Rochester Swimming Club, said: “Tom is a laid-back but confident boy who set his own pace for learning, much to the frustration of his parents and instructors.

"But patience prevailed, and now Tom is an important member of our competition squad. He was the winner of the 2007 Wilf Smith trophy, awarded annually to the best of the new swimmers.”

Each year 40,000 children take part in the Learn to Swim scheme, but only 50 receive awards.