Swimmer Michael Dorsman has been named as Bradford on Avon’s Young Sports Person of 2014 after his string of trophy successes.

However, the modest 15-year-old could not understand why he had been nominated, let alone won the accolade.

He said: “I felt surprised and a bit embarrassed, but happy to have found out I won.

“It was a good Christmas present to be honest.”

Michael first became interested in swimming aged three and joined Bradford on Avon swimming club when he was seven.

Only a year later he started to compete and from the age of 13 he joined the Aquae Sulis Performance Swimming Club at Bath University.

He said: “I’ve won trophies before but this is the first award I’ve won. I’ve won medals and trophies at club, county and regional level and I have twice represented Wiltshire as part of the county team at the National County Team Championships in Sheffield.”

The Minna Gillham Young Sports Person of the Year Award was initiated by the town council in recognition of the particular interest in sport for young people held by the late councillor, who died in 2004.

The St Laurence School pupil was nominated by his mum and swimming coaches for the award and said he has tried other sports, but swimming has become his firm favourite. He explained: “Swimming gives me a sense of freedom, because when you swim you’re not actually touching the ground.

“It’s a bit like flying. I’ve tried other sports – football, running, gymnastics, hockey – but swimming is the best.

“I’m good at it too – it gives me a sense of achievement.”

When choosing a winner, mayor John Potter said Michael was a ‘standout’ candidate. He said: “He trains 14 hours a week and he has won bronze, silver and gold across countless competitions.

“Michael seems to be a swimmer who is good at all strokes whether it is backstroke or butterfly – he’s just brilliant.

“One of the many reasons why he was chosen is because he has done all sorts of open events and he looks like he will be a swimming star. That’s the sort of youth we hope to encourage and inspire others to get involved in sports.”