Tom Hamer hoping to add to his gold collection after Commonwealth Games triumph

ALSO READ: Former Burnley Bobcat wins gold on the Gold Coast

The former Burnley Bobcats swimmer broke his own world record on his way to victory in the S14 200m freestyle in his only event of the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

That was one better than he had managed four years ago as a 15-year-old in Glasgow when he finished second, just as he did in Rio over the same distance two years ago.

And now Hamer is planning on adding more gold to his collection in two years’ time in Japan.

He said: “It means the world. I was previously a Commonwealth Games silver medallist in 2014 so it’s always nice to have that little bit of edge. I’ve been striving for that gold for a long time now so it’s finally come and I’m just over the moon to be honest.

“I think I’ve grown up a lot. I was 15 at my first Commonwealth Games, now I’m 19 and I’m a little bit stronger, bit more mature, wiser, so I’ve grown as a person and developed more as a man so that’s played a big part in it.

“Moving forward we’ve got two years, we’re halfway through the cycle and the Paralympics are coming around really soon.

“I don’t want a silver again at the Paralympics so I’m striving for that gold and I’ve got a lot of things to work on in the pool so hopefully that will work out.”

Hamer’s victory came on a golden night for England in the pool, with Aimee Willmott, James Wilby and Ellie Robinson also finishing top of the pile.

Hamer had plenty of support in the crowd, with his parents having flown out to Australia along with some family friends, and he admitted it was an emotional moment catching up with them after his gold.

He added: “It was amazing to stand on the podium and listen to your home national anthem in front of an Aussie crowd in Australia there’s nothing more special and looking down at two Aussies either side of you, there’s nothing that can beat that!

“I’ve had massive support here, my mum and dad are here and if it weren’t for them I wouldn’t be here in the first place. My parents are my best friends. We just get on so well and they know what I’m thinking and I know what they’re thinking. I don’t really get emotional but after seeing them I did get a bit emotional.”

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