Ruta Meilutyte, 15, will be returning to Plymouth later this year to begin studying for her
GCSEs and will be able to show off her 100m breaststroke medal to her schoolmates – who include Team GB star Tom Daley.
No one was expecting this, not even the swimmer herself and that is quite evident from her expressions of emotions in disbelief. She glances at the scoreboard confirming her win. In her post win interview, she could only manage: ‘I can't believe it. It's too much for me.”
Whereas her English coach Jon Rudd exclaimed: ‘We didn't realistically know what she would do.”
Meilutyte moved to the UK with her father to find better training and coaching conditions. Plymouth College, a base for elite young athletes, will also be represented at the Games by Uganda’s Jamila Lunkuse, in the 50m women's freestyle, and Zambia’s Jade Howard in the 100m equivalent – but neither is tipped to make the finals.
Assistant headteacher Sarah Dunn was one of the few people who was expecting Meilutyte’s triumph, saying: ‘She has always demonstrated superb talent and the hunger and desire to succeed. We had every confidence in her.’
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