Darren Mew
Encyclopedia
Darren Mew is a British swimmer specialising in breaststroke
. He is a member of Ellesmere College Titans and studied sport as a student at the University of Bath
. He has competed in two consecutive Summer Olympics for Great Britain, starting in 2000
.
) and stayed until he moved to the High Performance Center then located at the University of Bath at 17. Before he moved Mew competed in three successive junior European Championship finals in Geneva (Switzerland) 1995, Copenhagen (Denmark) 1996 and Glasgow (United Kingdom)1997 winning three medals in total. During this time he also broke the 50, 100 and 200 metres Breaststroke Long course and 50 and 100 metres Breaststroke short course Junior British Records.
Within six months of his last Junior European Championships he made his senior debut at the World Swimming Championships in Perth Australia in January 1998. Later that year he won he won two medals at the 1998 Commonwealth Games
in Kuala Lumpur
including a bronze in the 100m breaststroke.
Mew has swam in two Olympic Games finals, the 4x100m medley relay in Sydney Olympic Games 2000 and the 100m Breaststroke in Athens Olympic Games 2004. Unfortunately Darren ripped the sheafing that keeps the ulnar nerve
in place in his left elbow three months before the Athens Olympic Games leaving him with limited strength in his left arm, this was operated on shortly after he competed at the Games.
He has also won two medals at the [FINA World Aquatics Championships|[World Swimming Championships]], four medals at Commonwealth Games
six medals at the European Swimming Championships and one medal at the 2007 Summer Universiade
.
He has also broken multiple English, British and Commonwealth records and in April 2004 set the fourth fastest 100 metre breaststroke time in world history. From 1997 over the next ten years he had a world ranking inside the top ten in the world in either short course or long course breaststroke swimming.
. The Fund helped support clubs and teams by helping with travel expenses and buying new equipment.
In 2009 Darren was part of the "Champions" project by photographers Anderson & Low to help raise funds for Elton John Aids Foundation
(EJAF). The project which included famous sports people such as Thierry Henry
, Matt Dawson
, Mark Foster
, Billie Jean King
and Venus Williams
were pictured in the nude. These pictures were made into a book "Champions" and were also displayed in the National Portrait Gallery in London.
Breaststroke
The breaststroke is a swimming style in which the swimmer is on his or her chest and the torso does not rotate. It is the most popular recreational style due to its stability and the ability to keep the head out of the water a large portion of the time. In most swimming classes, beginners learn...
. He is a member of Ellesmere College Titans and studied sport as a student at the University of Bath
University of Bath
The University of Bath is a campus university located in Bath, United Kingdom. It received its Royal Charter in 1966....
. He has competed in two consecutive Summer Olympics for Great Britain, starting in 2000
Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics
At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, 32 swimming events were contested, between September 15–23, 2000. There was a total of 954 participants from 150 countries competing.-Medal table:-Men:...
.
Swimming career
Mew started swimming at West West Swimming Club on the Isle of Wight under the guidance of Trevor Collins (2005 winner of the BBC Sports Unsung Hero AwardBBC Sports Unsung Hero Award
The BBC Sports Unsung Hero Award is an award given annually as part of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony each December. The award is given to the sportsperson who has made a substantive, yet unrecognised contribution to sport. Sportspeople are nominated by the public, and must be aged...
) and stayed until he moved to the High Performance Center then located at the University of Bath at 17. Before he moved Mew competed in three successive junior European Championship finals in Geneva (Switzerland) 1995, Copenhagen (Denmark) 1996 and Glasgow (United Kingdom)1997 winning three medals in total. During this time he also broke the 50, 100 and 200 metres Breaststroke Long course and 50 and 100 metres Breaststroke short course Junior British Records.
Within six months of his last Junior European Championships he made his senior debut at the World Swimming Championships in Perth Australia in January 1998. Later that year he won he won two medals at the 1998 Commonwealth Games
1998 Commonwealth Games
The 1998 XVI Commonwealth Games were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 11 September to 21 September 1998 making it the first Asian country to act as host and the last Commonwealth Games for the 20th century. A record 70 nations supplied 3638 athletes...
in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
including a bronze in the 100m breaststroke.
Mew has swam in two Olympic Games finals, the 4x100m medley relay in Sydney Olympic Games 2000 and the 100m Breaststroke in Athens Olympic Games 2004. Unfortunately Darren ripped the sheafing that keeps the ulnar nerve
Ulnar nerve
In human anatomy, the ulnar nerve is a nerve which runs near the ulna bone. The ulnar collateral ligament of elbow joint is in relation with the ulnar nerve. The nerve is the largest unprotected nerve in the human body , so injury is common...
in place in his left elbow three months before the Athens Olympic Games leaving him with limited strength in his left arm, this was operated on shortly after he competed at the Games.
He has also won two medals at the [FINA World Aquatics Championships|[World Swimming Championships]], four medals at Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
six medals at the European Swimming Championships and one medal at the 2007 Summer Universiade
2007 Summer Universiade
The 2007 Summer Universiade, also known as the XXIV Summer Universiade, took place in Bangkok, Thailand.-Medal table:-External links:***...
.
He has also broken multiple English, British and Commonwealth records and in April 2004 set the fourth fastest 100 metre breaststroke time in world history. From 1997 over the next ten years he had a world ranking inside the top ten in the world in either short course or long course breaststroke swimming.
Charity work
In 2000 with a bonus from a sponsor Darren set up the "Darren Mew Trust Fund" to help support sports clubs and teams on the Isle of WightIsle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
. The Fund helped support clubs and teams by helping with travel expenses and buying new equipment.
In 2009 Darren was part of the "Champions" project by photographers Anderson & Low to help raise funds for Elton John Aids Foundation
Elton John AIDS Foundation
Elton John AIDS Foundation is one of the world's leading nonprofit organizations that was established by Sir Elton John in 1992 in the US * and 1993 in the UK * supporting innovative HIV/AIDS prevention, education programs, direct care and support services to people living with HIV/AIDS.EJAF has...
(EJAF). The project which included famous sports people such as Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry
Thierry Daniel Henry is a French professional footballer who plays for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.Henry was born in Les Ulis, Essonne where he played for an array of local sides as a youngster and showed great promise as a goal-scorer. He was spotted by AS Monaco in 1990 and...
, Matt Dawson
Matt Dawson
Matthew James Sutherland "Daws" Dawson, MBE is a retired English rugby union player who played scrum half for Wasps and Northampton Saints. During his international career he toured with the British and Irish Lions three times and was part of England's 2003 Rugby World Cup winning side...
, Mark Foster
Mark Foster (swimmer)
Mark Andrew Foster is a British professional swimmer, specialising in butterfly and freestyle at 50 metres....
, Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King is a former professional tennis player from the United States. She won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. King has been an advocate against sexism in sports and society...
and Venus Williams
Venus Williams
Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate...
were pictured in the nude. These pictures were made into a book "Champions" and were also displayed in the National Portrait Gallery in London.
Personal bests and records held
| Event | Long course | Short course |
|---|---|---|
| 50m Breaststroke | 27.44 (2009) NR | 26.72 (2003) NR |
| 100m Breaststroke | 60.02 (2004) | 58.68 (2003) |
| 200m Breaststroke | 2.17.26 (2002) | 2.10.83 (2003) |
| Record Key NR:National Record List of British records in swimming |
||