British Swimming Championships recap

Ok! So the first section of the season is over, and I have done everything I can to qualify for the Commonwealth Games.

Overall, I am pretty proud of my week, with 2/3 pbs and being happy with 2/3 swims.

The main thing that could have made this better was the preparation for the final of the 200m fly. Especially after the heat, where I cruised my 2nd fastest heat swim ever. This was a great feeling whilst knowing there was so much more to come.

I just got my warm up and prep times slightly wrong. I genuinely believe I am capable of being competitive and pushing for win in races like that, confidence that comes everyday from my training and how hard I work inside and out of the pool. In all honesty, what I think went wrong I can change quite simply, I just lost track of time in the afternoon session slightly, where I wanted to do my pace in the main pool, I had to do it in the pit. I ran out of time with my prep in between warm up and racing, which could have been avoided.

Was it a rookie mistake? Yes, however it is also so exciting for me as I know how much more is in the tank. It’s also something I was not stressing about at the time too, whereas I would normally be very stressed after how I had gotten to that point. It just makes me excited moving forward.

The programme is looking in its best position now, and I think we’re better set up moving forward from this point on, in terms of coaching staff and being on the same page. Which really excites me (needless to say with the swimmers too, especially how much I talk about how I really like the group I am in at the moment!)

My next event up was the 100fly, this was a training exercise kind of event, where I fully caffeine in the morning, to see how fast I could go. Over half a second pb in the heat showed it was in a pretty good place, as well as finally going sub-29 on the back 50 (28.46) shows that I can come off that wall and come home stronger than I have before. Maybe one day I will learn how to get to 50m in a 100m fly relaxed and fast...

There is still much more to come in this event, but for now, my 2nd main focus was the 200back, so I pulled out of the final to focus on getting a good sleep with no caffeine in my system. (also protecting the slightly niggling shoulder I have, less risky).

I felt quite flat on the Saturday before the 200back, but I stayed, supported the team and then went home to relax, this is a feeling that stayed with me until now, when I am reviewing this meet, which shows I must have had something underlying, and maybe why the heat of the 200back was almost a disaster.

I qualified for the final in 8th (last) place. Feeling rough and focusing on the wrong things in the swim. I didn’t realise just how low I had qualified as I came 2nd in my heat. The swim felt extremely heavy... but it was VERY close and nearly not good enough to make the final. I was so determined to not finish my last race off like that.

I didn’t have a good time between heat and final either, I didn't sleep too great (something that was a mainstay between heat and final in the 200m fly too), I had to have some paracetamol for a headache and as I didn’t have my coffee until I got to the pool, which is something I've only started doing recently, I wasn’t leaving the house feeling amazing.

Once the caffeine began to hit I realised I could do it, especially as I knew where I was going wrong. The problem was I was too heavy on the legs and too light on the arms. Once I woke up I knew I could finish on a high note, so to finish with almost a full second pb, considering how the heat went, was a joy for me.

Obviously, I know moving forward, if I qualify for Commonwealth Games I need to work on many things to be able to fulfil all my goals. So Its going to be my mission moving forward to be on my A-game and learn more from every swim moving forward. Trials has taught me so much, and it's time to work on what I have learnt.

A huge thank you to City of Sheffield Swim Squad, and Coach Mike for the support, to Sophie and Nathan for your support in the gym, to Zeynep and the sport psych support you have been able to give me, For Laura for her Nutritional support throughout the year, My awesome Partner Abbie for putting up with my rubbish and helping me get here.

Also a huge thank you to Finis, I would literally not be able to do this without your support and how you always keep me looking my best for all my competitions.

I know there is a lot more to come from here, and I am really looking forward to showing what comes next, but this process is not a solo run, so thanks to people who help me get to this stage.