News - 2004 Nationals

A golden farewell for Janko

Maxwell swimmers bring home the medals at Janko’s last meet

Maxwell Swimmers at last week's ASA National Youth Championships in Sheffield brought home nine medals including three Gold's - a fitting tribute to departing Maxwell Head Coach Janko Gojkovic. Three times Olympian Gojkovic, who is returning after nearly six years with the Club to his native Bosnia, was delighted on the haul.

Craig Gibbons took Gold in both the 17/18years 50M Freestyle and 100M Freestyle events, the latter in a new Youth British Record time of 50.27seconds. Craig won in style, being nearly 1.5 seconds ahead of his nearest rival and confirming his status as the fastest youth swimmer in the UK.

Paul Turner took Gold in the 17/18 years 100M backstroke in a personal best time of 58.84 seconds. Paul has been a finalist in this event for the past six years and this is the third time he has won Gold.

Hanna Capstick gained silver medals in both the 16/17 years 100M and 200M Butterfly finals. The 100M final was a particularly close affair with Hanna (1.02.67) just beaten to the touch by Plymouth Leander's Cassandra Patten.

Ed Downes took silver in the 17/18 years 200m Individual Medley. His time of 2.07.31 was a new personal best and within the World Class Programme time. This may well mean that Ed will be invited during next season to training camps run by British Swimming. Ed also gained Bronze in both the 100M Breast stroke and 400M Individual Medley events.

The 17/18 years Maxwell boys team comprising of Paul Turner, Adam Hilliard, Ed Downes and Craig Gibbons achieved third place and a Bronze medal in the 4 x 100M Medley Relay. The boys were delighted with their result particularly after the disappointment of coming home first in the 4 x 100M Freestyle relay earlier in the week only to be disqualified on a technicality.

Sarah Turner achieved a new personal best time of 1.09.92 in her 14/15 years 100M backstroke event and had good swims in both the 200M and 400M Freestyle events.

Commenting on the results Maxwell Chairman Jonathan Smith said - "Our swimmers have done Janko and the Club proud. They have achieved more medals than at any other Championships I can remember which is a fitting tribute to all the hard work they have put in and the expert coaching provided by Janko".

On the departure of Gojkovic, Smith remarked - "All of us at the Club are very sad to see him go, he has been an enormous influence on the Club during the last six years and helped make Maxwell one of the top Junior Clubs in the country. We are determined that all he has helped build and achieve continues to be developed in the future".

Janko will take the experience gained at Maxwell and the knowledge gained through his involvement with the British Swimming World Class Programme back to Bosnia where he hopes it will benefit their embryonic National programme