Dereham Otters celebrate 88 medals at Iceni Meet 2026

Dereham Otters Swimming Club took a large squad to the Iceni Meet in Thetford, returning home with an impressive 88 medals.

The team secured 27 gold, 37 silver and 24 bronze medals, while swimmers also recorded an outstanding 128 personal best times across the weekend.

There were strong performances throughout the squad as swimmers competed against tough opposition, with 14-year-old Olivia Keen and 10-year-old Zach Gray among those to particularly impress. Both showed maturity, determination and strong racing skills, highlighting their progress and potential. Their performances were a credit to themselves, their coaches and teammates.

Head coach Sam Watts said: “I’m really proud of the whole team. The medal haul is fantastic, but the 128 personal bests are particularly pleasing because they show that the swimmers are continuing to develop and improve.

“There was also a great atmosphere within the team. The swimmers were constantly encouraging and supporting each other, which is exactly what you want to see at a competition like this.

“Everyone who competed should be proud of their efforts, and a huge thank you goes to the coaches, volunteers and families for their continued support.”

The results provide further evidence of the progress being made by the Dereham Otters squad as the club continues to develop its swimmers across all age groups.