Swimming: New recruit Todd's Olympic ambitions (From Bournemouth Echo)

Swimming: New recruit Todd's Olympic ambitions

4:30pm Wednesday 14th July 2010 in

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BOURNEMOUTH Dolphins’ newest recruit is set to make his international debut this week barely a month after joining the club – and he is already setting his sights on London 2012.

Sixteen-year-old Adrian Todd, who lives at Branksome Park, will represent Botswana in six swimming events at the African Youth Games in Morocco, which started yesterday.

Then, after three weeks back at Littledown, he’ll be heading for Singapore for next month’s inaugural Youth Olympic Games.

Todd was born in Botswana, where his parents had business interests, and lived there until the family returned to Britain less than four years ago.

A few weeks ago, after virtually no swimming in the past three years, he took part in a competition back in Botswana and was promptly talent-spotted as a prospect for 2012 and selected as one of the country’s four Morocco-bound swimmers.

Officials also asked him to join a club in his home area so he can train regularly.

Adrian’s dad Jeff Todd said: “Botswana has always been a poor country but they are putting a lot of money into developing swimming and athletics.

“Adrian is strong and fit and I think he now holds national records in Botswana.

“His ambition is to represent Botswana in the Olympics.”

Adrian, who is due to join Twynham School’s sixth-form next term after leaving Oakmead School recently, will swim the 50 and 100m butterfly and freestyle, 50m breaststroke and 50m backstroke in Morocco, and the 50m freestyle and butterfly in Singapore.