MICHAEL GILES scored a gold medal double on the first day of the ninth Speedo Grand Prix meeting in Leicester last night.
The 24 year old from Coolmine, Dublin, dominated the 100m breaststroke to win in 52.93 seconds. This was just 1.69 seconds outside the Irish record set in Paris by Dublin's Gary O'Toole in 1992.
Just 15 minutes later, bites followed up with a 50m freestyle win in 23.45 seconds, with reigning Irish record holder and clubmate, Mick O'Hare, third in 23.90 seconds.
Said Giles I'm over the moon. But I've no intention of following the downward trail to America to further my swimming ambitions. I believe my coach, Dave Murray, is the best in the world.
Michael said he preferred short course (25 metre) swimming with the added advantage of extra turns which he used very well. He dismissed training long course (50 metre) Ireland does not have a long course pool with a British club.
Ireland's 24 year old Adrian O'Connor of New Ross, touched out the British record holder, Neil Willey of Barnet, to win the 50m backstroke in 26.48 seconds.
Brendan Giles (20) added to the Dublin family's medal haul with a second place in the B final of the 50m backstroke in 27.94 seconds.
