Fox puts medals down to hard work

Fox won three gold medals at the European Paralympic Championships in Iceland

Newquay swimmer Jonathan Fox has attributed hours of training to his recent success at the European Paralympic Championships in Iceland.

Fox won three gold medals and two silvers at the event, as Team GB finished top of the medals table.

Fox told BBC Radio Cornwall: "I swim six times a week. I have Thursday off so I don't have a weekend, but I swim about 30 to 40,000 metres a week."

Fox who is from St Stephen, is a member of Newquay Cormorants Swimming Club.

The 18-year-old was born with cerebral palsy and first started swimming to help with the disability.

He said: "I started swimming when I was a baby because of my physiotherapy. It kept me mobile and then I got recognised by British swimming."

The Newquay-based swimmer has been one of the stars of the British Swimming Team for several years, claiming his first European medal at the age of 17.

Fox and Proctor with their swimming coach Phil Goldman

But his recent success at the latest European meet in Reykjavik came as something of a surprise.

Fox said: "I was going out there just to do my best and came back with a load of medals, so I'm really pleased.

"Just standing there on the podium and listening to your national anthem being played is really good, I'm over the moon."

Fox won gold in the S7 100m backstroke, the 400m freestyle and also in the 4x100m relay, whilst his silver medals came in the 50m and 100m freestyle.

Fox's coach in Newquay, Phil Goldman, said Team GB's medal haul in Iceland was due in part to the professionalism of the backroom staff.

He said: "There is a family unity and tremendous support from the sport sciences based up in Manchester.

"There is good communication and good support and that is why the Team GB is doing so well, it's the organisation of it."

Fox was not the only member of Newquay's Cormorants Swimming Club to claim a place on the podium in Iceland, with both Matt Whorwood and Ben Proctor also amongst the medals.

Proctor secured three silver medals, whilst Whorwood picked up three bronze medals.