Swim ace Clare is master of all she surveys

Willison represented GB in five events and scooped four silver medals and one bronze in the 60-64 age group.

Willison swims with Bognor Swimming Club, trains at Westgate in Chichester and lives at Bracklesham Bay.

She said: “I have been competing in masters competitions for about four years and have swum in national, European and world events.

“This is the first time I have come in the top three in the world events, though I have been second in European and first in national competitions in various strokes and distances.

“I won gold medals at the GB Masters long course championships in Manchester a couple of months ago in 50m butterly and 50m freestyle.”

The Masters age groups span five-year bands and having only just turned 60, Willison is the youngest of her age group.

In Kazan she was part of a GB squad of about 50 swimmers and she swan in the 200m backstroke (bronze medal, beaten by two South African swimmers); 100m freestyle (silver, beaten by a Russian); 50m freestyle (silver, beaten by the same Russian); 50m butterfly (seeded No1, won silver); and the 200 individual medley (silver, beaten by a Mexican ex-Olympian).

Willison, who runs Billy’s on the Beach cafe with husband Murray Johnstone, said: “While we were on the blocks in the butterfly, a Russian fell in before the start and I thought they would recall the race so I did not start and was ready to step down. But the umpires did not recall so by the time I dived in I was five seconds behind, but went on to get silver – that was my GOLD medal! I was very, very disappointed to lose under such circumstances – but actually... I never wear gold anyway!

“It was a privilege to represent Great Britain in Russia and a lifetime experience to win five medals in five events, particularly in different strokes.

“I would love to encourage more masters swimmers to join the Bognor club and compete at a higher level. We are very short of competing masters in this area – there are loads of tri-athletes but none one else at my level.”

To get involved in masters-level swimming, contact Clare at [email protected]

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