TEENAGE synchronised swimmers Olivia Monks and Fiona Currie are celebrating winning a gold medal at the British Gas Synchro Championships.

The 16-year-olds, who are members of Trafford Synchronised Swimming Club, won the technical duet competition at the tournament, which took place at Ponds Forge, Sheffield.

They were the youngest duet competing at the event and it was the first time they had taken part in a British championship together.

Olivia, who lives in Warrington, and Fiona, of Wilmslow, narrowly missed out on a medal in the free duet category, coming fourth out of 12.

Olivia is a member of the England Talent Junior Synchronised Swimming Team and will compete in an international tournament in Croatia in June.

The girls had to juggle their GCSE studies with training for up to 15 hours per week in the run-up to the competition.

They are coached by Joanne Bean, Annabelle Surch-Williams and Margaret Monks, who is Olivia’s grandma.

Annabelle said: “The girls have done themselves and Trafford Synchronised Swimming Club proud. They gave a superb performance, and their achievement gives them a platform from which to build to be right up there in the medals later this year at their next national competition.”