He is currently based at the
University of Bath, where he trains at one of
British Swimming's Intensive Training Centres. As a teenager he spent two years at the British Offshore Centre in Australia at
The Southport School, from 2006 to 2008. In March 2009, he qualified for his first senior
World Championships after beating event favourite James Goddard in the 200 m backstroke at the
British Championships, held in Sheffield. Walker-Hebborn's preliminary heat performance in Rome secured him a place in the semifinals where, as one of the few swimmers not wearing the controversial full body suit. This is when he set a new
British record to become a finalist. The record was to stand only briefly, as he broke it again in the finals (1:56.05), placing 9th. He was offered a scholarship at Florida State University in January 2009 but returned to his
Bury St. Edmunds home after just a few weeks due to lack of long course training. == Later career ==