William becomes British Champion and now takes on the rest of the world
Young & Talented Cornwall All Talent
For Young & Talented Cornwall alumni William Davies, 2026 has been a year to remember.
William has just added another incredible achievement to his growing list, topping the leaderboard in all four individual youth categories at the National Youth Surf Life Saving Championships at Holywell Bay.
And he’s not stopping there. William has been selected to represent Great Britain at the SLS World Championships in South Africa this November – an incredible opportunity to compete against some of the best young surf lifesaving athletes from around the world.
His recent achievements include winning gold in all four individual surf lifesaving events at the British Championships 2026, alongside further golds in team events. He has also become a British Champion in the 200m Obstacles and 100m Medley, broken the Cornwall County Record for 200m Backstroke and qualified for the Senior British Swimming Championships and Commonwealth Games trials.
His talent has also taken him onto the international stage, competing in the World Ocean Series in Fistral and Hossegor, where he raced in open-age events against some of the best athletes in Europe.
Supporting William’s ambitions
For William, the support he received through Young & Talented Cornwall has played an important role in helping him progress.
The funding has allowed him to maintain his level of racing while also taking opportunities to compete at higher-level events and gain valuable experience on the international stage.
“The funding has been hugely beneficial. It has meant that I could maintain my current level of racing but also develop further by racing at higher-level meets, such as the Commonwealth Trials, and gain experience of racing internationally in Surf Lifesaving.”
Some of William’s favourite experiences have been competing alongside elite athletes and racing internationally.
“I loved racing in London against Olympians. Getting to sit with them at breakfast was amazing. Also racing in France at the World Ocean Series was a fantastic opportunity. Racing against the best athletes in Europe in big surf was lots of fun and I learned so much.”
For William, these experiences have been about much more than competition. They have given him the chance to challenge himself, learn from other athletes and continue developing his skills.
“I couldn’t have done this with the financial support.”
From county records and British titles to international competition, William’s achievements show just how much young talent there is here in Cornwall.
We’re incredibly proud to have supported William on his journey and can’t wait to see what he achieves next.
Next stop: South Africa and the SLS World Championships!
