Jordan Foster has returned home from the 2009 Berlin International Swimming Meet with precious gold.

Competing as one of the team of 21 swimmers representing Harrogate District Swimming Club against 170 competitors from 15 nations in the three-day event, 13-year-old Foster won the 200 metres freestyle.

And his victory was in a new personal best of two minutes and 8.67 seconds, shaving his previous top time by five seconds.

He also won three certificates for finishing in the top eight in two other events – seventh in the 200m individual medley and eighth in the 100m freestyle.

Said the Tadcaster Grammar School pupil: “It was a great race. I knew I had to swim well in my heat to have a chance of winning a medal. I was in seventh position after my first turn and after that just seemed to pull away.

“At the final turn I was in second and decided I wasn’t going to be beaten.

“I couldn’t believe it when I looked at the board and I had won.”

Foster said his coach Bill Evans had described it as the best race he had seen his protege swim.

Foster competed in nine events and achieved eight new personal best times.

First swimming competitively at the age of nine, his ultimate goal is to make the British team and compete in Olympic and European events.