The Titans Tazmin Pugh Returns from South Pacific with Six Commonwealth Medals

In her biggest International competition to date and as the second youngest in the team, fifteen year old Tazmin Pugh successfully returned from Samoa having competed for England in the 5th Commonwealth Youth Games with six medals.

Stating she was just a little nervous with the pressure of representing her country in her first multi-sport championships amongst 1,000 other athletes (aged from 14-18) from across the globe she was nevertheless determined to use that adrenalin to help her succeed in what has been a steep learning curve during 2015. With several teams taking their World Junior Championship team straight from Singapore, to the Games it was always going to be a tough ask.

Following a week's training camp in New Zealand, Pugh was in action on the first day of competition in Samoa swimming to near her pb and although doing what she had to do and swim quicker in the finals she just missed out on a podium place coming 4th in 27.72. She had to double up in the evening session almost immediately by competing in the 200m fly and again although just shy of her pb she fought back strongly in the last 50m to gain a Bronze medal podium place in 2:14.69.

On the second day Pugh swam to her second hard fought Bronze just down on her Regional Record in the finals of the 400m Individual Medley (IM) in 4:53.65 but was in action soon after in the 4 x 200 (800m) freestyle team relay with team mates Georgina Boyle; Geogia Derwent and Darcy Deakin. The four girls battled hard being rewarded for their efforts with Silver in a time of 8:15.93.

The third day found Pugh below par in the 100m fly (7th in the final) but still taking yet another relay team medal in the 4 x 100m freestyle winning Bronze in 3:50.83 just seven tenths behind Wales in 2nd place and once again Australia dominant in the pool taking Gold.

On the final day Pugh thought there was little chance of taking a podium place in the 200m IM as she hadn't even entered this event at the British National Championships in August where she won all seven Golds on offer and was entered with a 6th fastest time in the heats. In making the finals however it was just the stimulation she needed to better her pb and take her third individual bronze medal of the Games in 2:19.30.

Pugh followed this in the final relay 4 x 100 Medley where she swam the butterfly leg. England eventually took Silver after some great swimming by the quartet.

This helped England take second place overall in the pool with 25 medals (6 Gold; 9 Silver 10 Bronze) behind a dominant Australia. A happy England camp saw every one of their twelve swimmers win at least one medal, three taking five and Pugh with six medals. Head Coach Alan Bircher "Taz has done a fantastic job this season. We set goals and markers all through the season and she's raised the bar for herself. A real winner who hates losing and I know she'll take up the challenge of the new season on her return"