Paul Callis celebrates growing medal tally
Paul Callis of Beverley celebrating an impressive medal haul at the European Masters Swimming Championships(Image: supplied image)
Beverley swimmer Paul Callis delivered an outstanding performance at the European Masters Swimming Championships, held recently in Lublin, Poland. He secured an impressive medal haul – including four golds – and broke both British and European championship records.
Competing in nine events against Europe’s leading masters swimmers, Paul won four gold medals, three silver medals, and achieved two fifth-place finishes, confirming his position among the continent’s elite competitors. The highlight of the championships came in the 200m breaststroke, where the swimmer claimed the European title, alongside a gold medal in the 100m individual medley.
He also played a key role in two gold medal-winning team relay events, contributing to a dominant team performance. Paul added three silver medals to his tally in the 200m individual medley, 100m freestyle, and 100m breaststroke, demonstrating exceptional versatility across multiple disciplines.
The championships proved historic, with Paul breaking the British record in the 200m individual medley, as well as being part of the team that set a new European Championships record in the 4 x 50m men’s freestyle relay. These latest successes take Paul’s total to 11 European gold medals since his return to competitive swimming on the Masters World Circuit just two years ago.
Paul is no stranger to high-level competition, having previously been an elite swimmer in his early twenties, where he medalled at both British Championships and World Cup events before stepping away from the sport due to injury. Speaking after this latest championships, Paul said he was “highly delighted with the results” and proud to be a local representative on the European stage once again.
READ MORE: Swimming star Henry, 9, beats Olympic medallist in thrilling race
Paul’s successes in the water continue a winning streak for the Callis family. His son, Henry, 11, secured four Yorkshire titles and a bronze medal at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield last autumn.
Henry was competing at the Yorkshire Swimming Championships where, over two days of intense competition, he competed in ten events, claiming four Yorkshire Champion titles, a bronze medal in the 400m Individual Medley, and achieving an impressive nine personal best times.
Competing among the 80 fastest 11-year-old swimmers in Yorkshire, Henry demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication, and composure and built on an impressive track record at the Yorkshire Championships, having previously won 11 gold medals in the nine and ten-year-old categories.
He said at the time: “I’m really proud of how I swam and to see my hard work in training pay off. I love representing Beverley and competing with my teammates at such a high level.”