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Superfan, 5, meets star swimmer Ross at his University base

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Stirling swimmer Ross Murdoch with the little fan he traced through Twitter, Brian Fitzpatrick.
Stirling swimmer Ross Murdoch with the little fan he traced through Twitter, Brian Fitzpatrick. Ross invited Brian to meet him at the University of Stirling and join him for a star swimming lesson.

The five-year-old boy who wrote an “amazing” fan letter to Commonwealth Gold medallist Ross Murdoch has met the swimming star at the University of Stirling.

Little Brian Fitzpatrick, from Dumbarton, toured the National Swimming Academy before joining Ross for a superstar swimming lesson.

Proud dad Bruce Fitzpatrick said: “It’s been a fantastic day. Brian is absolutely over the moon to meet Ross.”

Brian – who has just started school last week -  scrawled his very own note to the 200m breaststroke gold medal winner following Ross’s success at Glasgow 2014.

It still reached the swimmer despite being only addressed to “Ross Murdoch, Commonwealth Champion, Balloch”.

Mr Fitzpatrick said: “We spotted the address, but let Brian send it off pretty sure it would still reach Ross. He’s one of the most famous people in Scotland.

“We also thought he’d get lots of fan mail and wouldn’t hear any more.”

But Ross - studying for a Sport and Exercise Science degree at the University – had other ideas.

The 20-year-old from Balfron, near Stirling, used his Twitter account to help find the youngster.

He tweeted: “RT&help me find 5yo Brian who sent me this amazing letter! I'd love to meet him and show him around where I train :-)."

Mr Fitzpatrick spotted the Tweet and got in touch through the social networking site.

Today (Friday 29 August) Ross treated the five-year-old to a tour of the facilities he uses at the University’s Stirling campus. The youngster also got to see Ross’s Commonwealth gold and bronze medals he won at Glasgow 2014.

 The primary pupil then donned his swim shorts for a swimming lesson with Ross.

Mr Fitzpatrick – who watched on with his wife Claire and their baby Emily – said: “Brian has been taking swimming lessons for the past year and loves swimming. It’s been a great day meeting Ross.”

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