A YOUNG swimmer from Okehampton is making waves with his performances, as he is on the verge of breaking into the national top ten for his age at butterfly stroke.

Elliot Svensson, aged nine, started swimming at Parklands Leisure Centre at a very young age, having weekly lessons by the time he was five years old. He now trains three days a week and takes part in regular competitions.

Georgia Ulyett started teaching Elliot how to swim at Parklands when he was six year-olds. She said: 'Right from the start I could tell he was a bit special. He is so focused and determined to accomplish whatever skill was set before him.

'He practiced with a dedication unusual in one so young, mastering the four competitive swimming strokes and the competitive start award by the time he was seven. This involves, among other things, diving from a starting block into 0.9 metres of deep water. I would tutor him while his mum would watch through her hands. He is going from strength to strength.'

Since turning nine last May, Elliot has won 46 race medals. He swims with Exeter City Swimming Club and Okehampton Otters, and recently broke 11 records for nine year-olds at the Otters' club championships.

Arguably his biggest achievement since last May was winning a bronze medal in the boys aged nine and ten category at his first level one meet at the Cardiff International Pool, producing a personal best time of 40.31 seconds in the 50 metre butterfly. This time has put him at the top of the rankings in his age group for this distance in the West of England and in the top 11 nationally.

He also won gold at the Devon Championships on February 16, in the 200 metre breaststroke.

Elliot's favourite swimmer is Liam Tancock. Having won a recent race in Exeter, he now has his name engraved on a trophy alongside Tancock's, who won the trophy himself as a youngster.

Elliot said: 'It is nice to be winning so many medals. I like to win and it feels good. I want to keep my times up and my ranking up, and make sure I keep getting better.

'I am most proud of winning at the Devon Championships, and being the best in the whole of Devon. My favourite pool was Cardiff, that was a great meet.

'It is quite nice to have my name on the same trophy as Liam Tancock. I really like him as a swimmer. I've met him and he signed my Olympics t-shirt for me, and he was really nice.'

Elliot's mum Lindsey is excited for his future prospects. She said: 'We are very proud of him. He is very hard working and has done really well. His win at the Devon Championship was very exciting.

'He is very focused for a youngster, and very competitive, he likes to win. He wants to swim in the national team for Great Britain, maybe the Olympics one day. That's his aim.'

Elliot and Lindsey expressed their thanks to all of his swimming teachers, Parklands Leisure Centre, his friends and family, and everyone who supports his swimming.