SWIMMER David Cumberlidge won gold at the Summer Universiade, the world university games in Italy.

The 22-year-old, from Hexham, excelled in the 50m freestyle, finishing ahead of Japan’s Kosuke Matsui, who was runner-up, and Russian Daniil Markov, who took bronze.

Cumberlidge, who was the fastest qualifier, won gold with a time of 21.97s, making him only the fourth man in British swimming history to break the 22-second mark in 50m freestyle, behind only Ben Proud at the 2018 European Championships, Adam Brown at the 2013 British Championships, and Mark Foster at the 2008 Zlatni Medvjed. Cumberlidge has improved his chances of joining European champion Ben Proud on the British Olympic roster next summer.

The Heriot-Watt University student was one of three gold medallists for Great Britain at the games, in Naples, and one of 10 Team GB medallists overall.

Fellow swimmer Alicia Wilson won gold in the 200m individual medley, while runner Jess Judd excelled in the 5,000m.

Last year, Cumberlidge memorably won silver at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, where he was a key member of the England men’s 4x100m freestyle quartet. Last December, Cumberlidge was awarded the Tynedale Trophy at the Sport Tynedale Awards.

l Slaley runner Dan Joyce represented England at the SIAB Schools International event in Swansea last weekend.

He won with a time of 1:51.69, finishing ahead of England teammate Charlie Roberts (1:55.62), and Scotland’s Ben Sandilands, who was third with a time of 1:55.70.

It followed Joyce’s recent success in the English Schools Track and Field Championships in Birmimgham, where he also won the 800m final.