Swimming star Okroj makes major waves at Sheffield swimming event
Teenager wins two medals and smashes PBs and Shetland records
TEENAGER Julian Okroj cemented his status as one of Shetland’s brightest young sporting talents with a superb showing at a major swimming event in Sheffield.
The 15-year-old qualified for the Aquatics GB Next Generation championships through his previous performances, with the top swimmers across the UK taking part across seven days.
Okroj, representing Delting Dolphins, had an incredible week across 12 events – reaching nine finals and finishing in the top six in every one of them.
He also came home with a silver medal in the 200m backstroke and a bronze medal in the 400m individual medley.
Across the meet he produced 11 new PBs, with several improved again between heats and finals.
He also set five new Shetland 15/16 age group records and three new open records, results which put him near the top of his age group in Britain.
That all came despite Okroj’s gruelling schedule, with the young swimmer having to race numerous heats and finals every day throughout the week.
Okroj started with the 1500m freestyle on day one, setting a new personal best and improving his seeding by four places to finish 12th in his age group.
Day two saw him swim well in the morning heats of both the 400m individual medley and 50m backstroke, seeing him safely into the evening finals.
A determined swim in the final of the 400m individual medley saw him power through to finish third and take the bronze medal.
He then swam the 50m backstroke, finishing sixth in a new PB and a Shetland open record time.
Okroj swam well in both the 200m butterfly and 800m freestyle in the morning of day three, making it to the final in butterfly and coming eighth overall in 800m freestyle. He also gained PBs in both.
In the evening’s final session he swam a strong race in the butterfly, just missing out on a podium place by finishing fourth.
Okroj qualified for both the 400m freestyle and 100m backstroke finals on day four, finishing fifth overall in the freestyle and again just missing out on bronze with a fourth place backstroke finish.
However, he again set new PBs in both events and earned a Shetland open record in the 100m backstroke.
Day five was a quieter session with only the 100m butterfly, where he safely moved to the evening final and achieved a new PB and sixth overall.
He eased into the final of the 200m backstroke on day six, and set a new PB in the 50m freestyle on the morning of day six.
The evening’s final session saw a determined Okroj finish second in the 200m backstroke to claim both the silver medal in his age group and another Shetland open record.
The last day of competition had Okroj finish with 200m freestyle and 200m individual medley, making the finals of both events.
In the finals he swam strongly, as he had done all week, finishing fifth in both events and earning a new 200m individual medley PB.
Delting Dolphins said the club and its coaching team could not be prouder of Okroj in what has been an “amazing” season for him.
The club thanked sponsors Polycrub, Island Fish, Busta House Hotel, NorthLink Ferries, SIC Sport and Leisure and sportscotland for the athlete travel award scheme funding.
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