MICHAEL COOK, of Bexley Swimming Club, celebrated his 16th birthday by winning a bronze medal at the Biathle World Championships in Monaco.

The Beths Grammar School pupil had to complete two 1,000m runs either side of a 200m swim against some of the top competitors from around the globe in the boys’ 15-16 years race.

He was in fourth place after the swim section but put in a strong run to take third place in a time of 9min 42sec and finish as the highest-placed European.

Cook, who swims 45km and runs 5km every week in training, said: “It was a great birthday. I had a card from my Bexley Swimming Club team-mates, a cake from the local boulangerie and a world medal, too.”