'Amazing' Olympic experience for Penarth swimmer Ieuan Lloyd (From Penarth Times)

'Amazing' Olympic experience for Penarth swimmer Ieuan Lloyd

7:40am Thursday 2nd August 2012 in News

PENARTH swimming sensation Ieuan Lloyd has spoken of his 'amazing' Olympic experience, after completing his events at London's 2012 Games.

On Tuesday evening, the 19-year-old swam the second leg of the 4x200m freestyle relay final.

The GB team - Ieuan, Robbie Renwick, Rob Bale and Ross Davenport - finished sixth in a race dominated by the Americans, with US star Michael Phelps sealing his place as the greatest ever Olympian.

Former Stanwell pupil Ieuan also swam in the individual 200m freestyle heats on Sunday, just missing out on a semi-final spot after finishing sixth, having led the field early on.

“The experience of being out there swimming at a Games has been really special for me and I have learned a lot," he said.

“It’s been amazing - something I have never experienced before, being so young.”

Ieuan’s proud parents David and Rachel, and their other children Megan, Annes and Cai, watched the relay final at the Aquatics Centre in London on Tuesday.

"It was incredibly exciting," said David.

"We were quite a long way back but had a fantastic view of the pool, and the cheer of the whole crowd when Team GB came out was incredible."

Rachel said: "It was fantastic. To think that only a year ago he was at Stanwell sitting his A-levels and yesterday he was standing there at the Olympics!

"He said he was a bit in awe of the guys and took a few minutes to compose himself, but once he got into the block he was fine.

"The whole crowd supported the GB Team and took the roof off with their cheering," she added.

"Ieuan thought the experience was ‘mind blowing’ - a dream come true!"

London 2012 was the first global swimming event for European Junior champion Ieuan.

• Former St Cyres pupil David Davies starts his bid for a 1500m medal on Friday, while discus star Brett Morse competes on Monday, August 6.