Charlie Brogan has been named Water Polo Male Athlete of the Year at a star-studded awards night.

And that is some achievement because among the other prize winners at the 2019 British Swimming Awards night at the Athena in Leicester on Saturday was Adam Peaty, the 2016 Olympic breaststroke champion who was named Swimming Athlete of the Year.

But what makes Cheltenham water polo player Brogan’s award all the more special is that he has only just turned 17.

“It’s fantastic,” said Cheltenham chief water polo coach Martyn Thomas, “it’s an amazing achievement.

“He’s very, very good, he’s truly exceptional. He was 6ft at the age of 15 so he has all the physical attributes but he also has all the mental attributes as well.

“His training ethos is superb, he loves it. He’s a happy guy who loves to train, he was born for it.”

Bournside School pupil Brogan has already represented Great Britain at age group level and Thomas added: “He’s a specialist centre-forward, he’s scores a lot of goals.

“He’s a tough guy, playing up front is where all the wrestling take place, he takes all the flak.

“He was playing for our national league side in that position at the age of 16. We’re a top five team so that shows you how good he is.”

Brogan, who couldn’t be at the awards evening on Saturday because he was playing national league water polo for Cheltenham, was one of six nominations for water polo award.

Cheltenham clubmates Amy Berry and Tom Hunt were also nominated for awards and Thomas added: “To have three nominations is fantastic.”