GALASHIELS swimming sensation Beth Johnston has won double gold at the School Games National Finals over the weekend.

Thousands of the country's brightest young sports stars descended on Loughborough University last Thursday for the multi discipline championships.

And the star of the pool was undoubtedly the Galashiels Academy pupil as she twice reached the top step of the podium.

Contesting both the Girls Mixed Category 200m Individual Medley and the Mixed Category 100m Backstroke, Beth produced a brilliant pair of swims.

And the teenager also won silver in the Mixed Category 100m Freestyle capping off a wonderful meeting.

Beth told us: "I’m so pleased – I didn’t think I’d perform this well so early in the season.

"I think all the hard work from last season is still there.

"I knew if I swam my PBs I’d have a chance but they weren’t on my mind, although I was pretty close to them.”

The School Games are an integrated multi-sport event for the UK’s most talented school-age athletes, with around 1,600 athletes competing across 12 sports, seven of which included disability disciplines.

Previous competitors include Paralympic champions Hannah Cockroft, Ellie Simmonds and Jonnie Peacock, Olympic champion Adam Peaty, and GB sprinters Adam Gemili and Dina Asher-Smith.

The School Games are the springboard for future athletes with 56 of the 382 athletes representing Team GB at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio having competed at the School Games.

Beth admits the whole School Games experience was highly enjoyable.

She added: "It’s been really good, meeting new people and watching some of the other sports.

"I’ve loved staying the athlete’s village – that's been really cool.”