Le Couilliard is rubbing shoulders with the world’s best and his first event, the 200m butterfly, was won by world record holder Michael Phelps.
The field also included Commonwealth Games champion Justin Norris.The Jersey lad touched home in 2 minutes 5.66 seconds within two per cent of his personal best.
Swimmers on a programme like Le Couilliard is undertaking are expected to be within three per cent of their PB so it was a good time from the teenager.Meanwhile Le Couilliard’s home-based team-mates are pursuing a tough programme trying to keep up with the former De La Salle College pupil’s 60 kilometres a week.
Rosie Barrett’s last five weeks have seen her cover over 280 kilometres as she and the rest of the squad now gradually taper for three weeks of competition.Next weekend the Jersey Age Groups take place on Friday and Saturday and Tigers have 20 swimmers missing the final Saturday sessions as they travel to Aldershot to race long course on the Sunday.The following weekend the Speedo team will be in Southampton in the Division I top six clubs’ battle for the two coveted places for promotion to the premiership.And to finish the 2003 programme, a group of nine will race in Amiens in France in the long course Vittel Cup meet between 19 and 21 December.
