Maidenhead's Dean is top of the rostrum at the 2019 Mare Nostrum series

Maidenhead’s Tom Dean stood top of the rostrum after winning the men’s 200m freestyle at the 2019 Mare Nostrum Series at Canet-en-Roussill on this week.

The Maidenhead Swimming Club athlete – studying at Bath University – edged out Brazil’s Fernando Scheffer (1.47.99) with a time of 1.47.39.

On his win Dean commented: “I’m very happy to move that on from Monaco two days ago. I changed my plan a little bit as 200m freestyle is such a tactical game. I gave it a bit more oomph from the start and it paid off. It’s tough in the outside lane as you can’t see people as much, but luckily on the second and fourth 50m I got view of where the rest of the field were and judge it.”

The Mare Nostrum series attracts swimmers to compete for prize money and prestige – and is also a primer for next month’s World Championships in South Korea. Dean has already been selected to swim for Great Britain.

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Fellow Maidenhead swimmer Katie Crowhurst was also on the podium at the Para Swimming World Series in Berlin, Germany this week. The

15-year-old claimed a youth silver medal in the 50m backstroke having qualified for the finals with a massive new personal best. Winners are determined on how close their time is to the world record in their disability category.