'Inspirational' swimmer returns after 26 years

A 49-year-old swimmer has insisted "age is just a number" after he qualified for a major championships for the first time in 26 years.

Hampshire swimmer Martin Bennell is set to compete in the 50m breaststroke in the GB Aquatics Championships next month.

He last took part in 2000, when he was 23.

He will be lining up alongside competitors including Olympic gold medalist Adam Peaty and said he hoped to be "an inspiration" to other swimmers looking to rekindle their careers.

Having taken a long break from the pool, Bennell took up Masters swimming with the Basingstoke Bluefins.

He won three golds at the Masters World Aquatics championships in Singapore in 2025.

Bennell explained it was was his teammates who noticed his times were good enough to qualify for the GB Aquatics Championships - one second quicker than when he last qualified 26 years ago.

He said he put this down to "a lot of marginal gains, a lot of focus, and gradual improvements".

"Age is just a number," he said.

The championships - held at the London Aquatics Centre - see the country's top swimmers compete for British titles, with many looking towards qualification for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in August.

"You don't always think about how you're inspiring people when you're doing it," he said.

"I was doing it selfishly for myself and when the kids got a little bit older I had a little bit more free time to do my own training and up my efforts.

"The fact it's inspiring other people is great.

"There's a few parents of my age who are now willing to get back in.

There's a few swimmers who are actually seeing what I'm doing and talking about getting back in as well so that's a good thing.

"Hopefully I'm an inspiration."

He said his message for other swimmers was to "never give up".

"Swimming is hard and a lot of swimmers do retire in their teens - my own children did.

"I've been through that myself as a parent but get back in - it's good for your health it's a great sport, a great hobby," he added.