Leeds swimmer Leah Schlosshan celebrates top GCSE grades after Team GM bronze medal win

Leah Schlosshan discovered she had earned 10 GCSEs at the coveted grade 9 - the equivalent to A* under the old system - and a further subject at grade 8.

The 16-year-old, who lives in Adel and studies at Bradford Grammar School, was last month selected to represent GB for her first international competition at the European Junior Swimming Championships in Rome.

While competing there, she scooped a bronze medal in the 4 x 100m medley relay, swimming the breaststroke leg.

She also participated in the 400m and 200m individual medley, progressing to the semi-final in the latter.

Leah: "I'm delighted with my results. I'm very grateful to BGS and all the teachers, especially specialist swimming coach Craig Robinson for supporting me through this difficult year so that I could achieve my dream to represent GB internationally but also to achieve my goals academically. I feel very lucky and privileged."

The teenager trains nine times a week in the Leeds City Council Swim Training Scheme under her coach Richard Denigan, and competes nationally for the City of Leeds SC.

During the lockdowns, due to the closure of the John Charles Centre for Sport, BGS ensured she could continue her training at school in the school’s swimming pool around lessons, assessments, and other co-curricular commitments.

Dr Simon Hinchliffe, headmaster at BGS, said: "Many congratulations to Leah who has achieved outstanding success in her GCSEs.

"We're very proud of her. It takes real grit and determination to balance academic learning with training at an elite level and Leah has shown she has huge amounts of both qualities."

Mr Robinson added: "We were able to offer Leah about half of the 20 or more hours that typically make up her training each week, but it was the self-discipline and work that Leah put in behind the scenes that helped her qualify then compete for Team GB this summer.

"Swimming personal best performances in the Girls 4 x 100m Medley Relay after the challenges faced over the last 18 months was truly remarkable."

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