Plymouth’s Ben Proud had a pretty good summer. First he collected gold in both the 50 freestyle and 50 butterfly and added a bronze as part of England’s 4 x 100 freestyle relay team at the Commonwealth Games. He then went on to win the bronze in the 50 butterfly as well as being part of the Great Britain’s gold medal winning 4 x 100 medley relay at the European Championships in Berlin.
Along with his medal winning performances Proud also set new British records in both the 50 freestyle (21.76) and 50 butterfly (22.93)
Last night Proud was rewarded for those accomplishments being named Plymouth’s Sports Personality of the year.
Massively honoured to be named @PlymouthHerald Sports Personality for 2014! Such a great night! #HeraldSPOTYpic.twitter.com/DA1iTUygWu
— Ben Proud (@BenProud) February 3, 2015
Proud faced some stiff competition for the award. Other nominees included; Tom Daley who defended his Commonwealth crown winning the men’s 10 meter event in Glasgow as well as collecting a silver in the 10 meter synchro event.
Sarah Barrow took the gold in the 10 meter at the European Games becoming the first British woman to do so since 1927. Barrow also won a silver in the 10 meter synchro event at the Commonwealth Games.
And of course Proud’s teammate Lithuanian star Ruta Meilutyte was also a nominee. Meilutyte who won gold in the 50 and 100 breaststroke at the Youth Olympics and then proceeded to win the gold in the 50 meter event at the European Championships.
Meilutyte also won gold in the 50 breaststroke and silver the 100 breaststroke at the World Short Course Championships in Dubai.
Rugby Star Henry Slade and diver Tonia Couch were also up for the award.
Proud told SwimSwam today that he was honoured just to be thought of in the same light as the other great athletes that were up for the award, “I felt honoured enough just to be named along with the other nominee’s so it was very special to have won the award,” said Proud.
“The award is very important, it’s a great way to highlight Plymouth’s sporting success from the past year before the next season begins.”
When asked if he expected to have such great results last summer Proud said he planned on the times, but was surprised by the placing, “The results from this summer were expected.”
“Time wise it was what I was aiming for, but I didn’t expect to come away with the medals I got.”
“It was purely ‘swim for the fastest time I can and hope for the best’.”
Proud also said that he was happy with the results from both the Commonwealth Games and the European Championships, especially with both meets being so close together, “I devoted so much emotional energy into the Commonwealth Games that I wasn’t prepared for the quick turn around into the European Championships.”
“I don’t know if I would have swum faster if I approached it differently. Nonetheless I am happy with the results.”
His goals for the upcoming year are simple, focus on improvement and with that improvement hopeful collect some hardware along the way, “This year I plan to just try and get as big a chunk off of my times as I can to give me more confidence in the lead up to Rio,” said Proud.
“And similar to last year, I’m not looking for medals at major meets, I’m just looking at improving as much as I can.”