David Davies (swimmer)

David Michael Rhys Davies (born 3 March 1985) is a Welsh former competitive swimmer who has represented Wales at the Commonwealth Games, and swam for Great Britain at Summer Olympics, world championships and European championships, winning medals in each of those major international championships. Davies specialises in long-distance freestyle events.[1][2] Born in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Davies swam for Wales at the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games and represented Great Britain at the 2004, 2008 Olympics and 2012 Olympics.[2] As of the end of 2010, he held the British Records in the 400-, 800- and 1500-metre freestyle events.

David Davies
Personal information
Full nameDavid Michael Rhys Davies
Nickname(s)"Dai Splash"
National team Great Britain
Born (1985-03-03) 3 March 1985
Barry, Wales
Height1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight84 kg (185 lb; 13.2 st)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle
ClubCity of Cardiff
CoachDave Haller

Swimming career

At the 2003 European Junior Championships he won a gold medal. At the 2004 Olympics, he won the bronze medal in the men's 1,500m freestyle, in a time of 14:45.95 (a British and European record). He also swam at the 2004 European Championships and the 2005 World Championships.

At the 2006 Commonwealth Games, Davies won the 1,500 freestyle and was third in the 400 freestyle. In 2008, he finished second in the 1500 free at the 2008 Short Course Worlds.

Davies represented Great Britain at the 2008 Olympics, swimming in both the pool competition and open water race. In the men's 1500m freestyle race, he finished 6th.[3] In the open-water 10K race in Beijing, Davies finished second in the new Olympic event. Shortly after finishing the event, there was concern for Davies' state of health as First Aid staff rushed to stretcher him off for medical attention. Davies told the BBC shortly afterward: "For the last part of it I was delirious, I wanted it so bad. I've given it everything – the stretcher at the end was a bit mad but I've got something to show for it. I felt a bit violated to be honest, people swimming all over me, and the last lap was a real struggle.".[4]

Davies qualified for the Olympics 10K at the 2008 Open Water World Championships in Seville, Spain where he finished just 0.03 behind the winner.[5]

Personal bests and records held
Long course (50 m)
Event Time Date Meet Location Ref
400 m freestyle 3:45.24 NR 16 Mar 2009British Championships Sheffield, England [6]
800 m freestyle 7:44.32 NR 29 Jul 2009World Championships Rome, Italy [7]
1500 m freestyle 14:45.95 NR 21 Aug 2004Olympic Games Athens, Greece [8]
Short course (25 m)
Event Time Date Meet Location Ref
400 m freestyle 3:45.08 12 Dec 2005European SC Championships Trieste, Italy
800 m freestyle 7:49.06 14 Nov 2008British Universities SC Championships Sheffield, England
1500 m freestyle 14:32.56 NR 11 Dec 2004European SC Championships Vienna, Austria [9]
Legend: WR – World record; ER – European record; CR – Commonwealth record; NR – British record;
Records not set in finals: h – heat; sf – semifinal; r – relay 1st leg; rh – relay heat 1st leg; b – B final; † – en route to final mark; tt – time trial

See also

References
  1. "BBC SPORT – Olympics – Davies retains British swim title". BBC Sport. 20 March 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2009.
  2. "David Davies". BBC. August 2009. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  3. "David Davies profile at British Olympics Association". Retrieved 13 April 2008.
  4. Lord, Craig (21 August 2008). "Swimmer David Davies wins silver medal for Britain". The Times. London. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  5. "FINA World Open Water Championships". Archived from the original on 29 August 2012.
  6. "Jackson claims new world record". BBC News. 16 March 2009. Retrieved 16 March 2009.
  7. "Davies Lowers British Record". British Swimming. 27 June 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2009.
  8. "Davies grabs a bronze". The Observer Sport Pages. 22 August 2004. p. 3.
  9. Craig Lord (12 December 2004). "Payne is top of the class". Sunday Times. p. 22.
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