2011 World Champs
18 July, 2011
I'm so excited to be in Shanghai ahead of the World
Championships! It has come round so fast - it seems like yesterday
that I was at the British Gas Trials in March and just
qualifying!
After trials the Nova Centurion team went on a 10 day training
camp to Florida which was amazing. I wasn't very well before I left
so it was good to get a bit of sun and to get some fitness back.
Unfortunately I got ill again once I was back, and had to pull out
of the British Swimming Camp in Cyprus. I was so gutted that I
could not be part of the team but I had to make the right decision
for me and my health.
Luckily I managed to get over the illness and get back into the
really hardcore training. Since then my training has been really
tough but I'm lucky to have a great coach and amazing team mates
and family supporting me.
I raced at the British Gas Swimming Championships in June which
went really well. I decided not to ease back and taper due to
already qualifying for the Worlds in March and so was extremely
pleased to win the 800m and 400m Free and post some solid
times.
I then raced at the Scottish Nationals in Glasgow in late
June/early July. It was the same situation as the Nationals where i
didn't rest back or taper. I was lucky enough to train with Robbie
Renwick for two days which was pretty cool and a nice change! Again
i was pleased to win the 200m and 800m Free. I didn't race in the
400m Free as I decided to do a heart-rate session instead - I had
to train at 5.15am... It was the first morning in my whole career
where my coach Bill Furniss had to come and knock on my apartment
to wake me up!! Not good that my alarm didnt go off, but I
still managed to be in the pool on time though!!!
I'm was very excited to go out to the holding
camp in Japan and be with the rest of the team. I've not been on a
team camp since last October for the Commonwealth Games so I'm very
excited to see everyone.
And nowI'm in Shanghai - I have never been here
before and have heard amazing things about the city
so it will be a great experience. I think the whole
British Gas Swimming Team will have an unbelievable World
Championships. We're getting stronger and stronger as a team and
the moral and atmosphere is amazing at the moment!
I have a big racing schedule with racing the 200m, 400m, 800m
Free and 4x200m Relay but I'm looking forward to the challenge.
Wish me luck!!!!