A DEDICATED Isle of Wight swimmer and specialist of the Butterfly swimming technique has only gone and become world champion — with a five-medal haul at a major national competition.
Zac Lacey, of Ryde, competed at the World Down Syndrome Swimming Championships in Albufeira, Portugal, between October 17 and 22.
The 22-year-old qualified for Team GB, together with 29 others, and had a busy schedule with seven individual events and three relay events.
The HTP College student, who is studying to become a fitness instructor, trains with Seaclose Swimming Club.
He has been part of Team GB since 2016 – taking time to develop to the senior ranks, after being a junior world record holder.
Zac’s specialism is the Butterfly, and on day one – after personal best performances in the 50m back and 100m free races – he swam the butterfly leg of a 100m medley relay, earning himself and his team a silver medal, behind only Italy.
On day two, Zac competed in the 50m fly event, where he was third fastest going into the evening final, but missed out on a medal by just 0.28secs.
Day three, he made the 200m individual medley final, finishing fifth, before joining up with his Team GB teammates for the 200m freestyle relay, where he swam the second leg and won a silver medal.
On day four, Zac swam a world-record time in his 100m butterfly heat — 1min 17.85secs — only for it to be broken by Portugal’s Perreira in the final heat.
The two then faced off in the evening final, where Zac lead for 90 metres, but the Portuguese swimmer came through in the final stretch.
Zac went on to complete the backstroke leg of a 50m medley relay, earning himself yet another silver medal for Team GB.
Somehow, on day five, he found the strength to compete in the 100m individual medley and 200m butterfly, and qualified for both finals once again.
In the 200m butterfly, Zac was leading by nearly ten metres at the halfway mark.
He stretched that lead even further across the remaining four lengths, and finished five seconds ahead of the previous world champion, in a time of 2mins 54.86 secs.
In so doing, he became world champion, and took home his first ever gold medal at world level.
The dedicated champion climbed out of the water, and three minutes later, he was on the starting blocks for the 100 individual medley final.
Understandably, fatigue took its toll, and Zac finished in eighth place.
Across the week, Zac achieved personal bests in all seven of his entries, and took home five medals.
"I was very excited to be going to Portugal and have worked really hard over the last year," said Zac.
"These medals, and to be world champion, is a dream come true.
"I would like to thank my Seaclose Swimming coaches for their help, and my family for their support.
"I would also like to say that without the help of the Isle of Wight Council, Wightlink and many others, I could not have done this.
"Thank you, and please share my success."
Zac's parents, Neil and Nicola, couldn't be prouder of their son.
"His dreams are coming alive," said the pair.
"He loves his swimming and his journey to the top has been down to a lot of hard work and perseverance.
"It is so nice to see the rewards he is getting for this.
"We are so grateful for everyone’s support, and a huge thank you for the messages Zac has received.
"Finally, Zac would say that those who have extra needs, be it physical or learning, only need a little bit of extra time, because ‘we have no limits’."
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