Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games - Day 3

Day 3

Saturday 26th July 2014

Today I returned to the pool prepared to compete in the 200m Breaststroke and 50m Butterfly.  First up was the 200m Breaststroke, feeling apprehensive about the condition of my knee, I knew it would be a tough race both mentally and physically.  I was swimming inthe final heat, heat No.4, lane No.1.  I held my place, finishing 7th in my heat however, I was very disappointed with my time of 2.40.00, some 4.5 seconds slower than my personal best.  The winner of my heat, Taylor McKeown from Australia went on to win the final in a time of 2.22.36!  With no time to dwell, I returned to the calling area to wait for my next event.

Next up was the 50m Butterfly.  This is an event I had originally entered to enable me to have 'another' swim whilst at there. I knew there was no pressure on me, As I had only set a new PB of 28.97 at the British Gas International Meet, which was the first time I had actually hit the CG Qualifying Time.  However, I picked myself up after my 200m Breast swim, even managing a wave to the crowd from behind the starting blocks! Although my finishing time time was slightly slower than my PB (29.30), I finished my heat in 4th place which I was extremely pleased with.

After the morning session, I managed to grab a few moments with my family, along with a few special friends who had travelled to Glasgow to watch; Tracy, Steven and Georgia Mort from Grace Cole also Andy and Caitlin Armstrong from Pioneer 79.  It was great to see everyone travelling to Glasgow to support me, Thank you!!  

Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games - Day 2

Day 2

Friday 25th July 2014

After my successful start yesterday in the 50m Breaststroke, today I had a well earned 'day off'.  Although not swimming, I headed for Tolcross International Pool all the same, in order to cheer on my team mates in their various events, as well as having an appointment with the Team Physio (Ruth) who has been working hard on my knee.

In the afternoon, my Mum, Dad and Brother had been allocated visitor passes to visit the Athletes Village, I was so excited to show them around.  They arrived around 2.30pm (when they eventually found the correct entrance!)  I had a lot of fun showing them around especially my brother, as he was in his elements in the entertainment area, lots of video games etc!  They seemed to have a good day too, as they had been to the track cycling in the morning at the Chris Hoy Velodrome, then walked over to the village.

They left around 6pm, I headed back to the dining area and met up with the rest of the team before having an early night to in order to prepare myself for tomorrow's racing, the 200m Breaststroke and 50m Butterfly, whilst my mum, dad and brother headed into Glasgow Centre.

Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, Day 1

Day 1

Thursday 24th July 2014

My first event of the 2014 Commonwealth Games took place today, it was the 50m Breaststroke.

The easiest way to describe how I was feeling was..... Nervous!!

I swam in Heat No.4, Lane No.7.  With a personal best time of 33.53, I knew that all I could do was to go out and do my best, and hopefully finish with a new personal best.

It was a strong field, with swimmers in the previous heat swimming times of between 30.49 and 35.19, I knew it would take a new PB to get me through to anywhere near a semi-final.

I was off!  What an amazing feeling to swim against swimmers from around the world, I was happy when I looked up at the scoreboard and realised I had finished 5th in my heat in a new PB of 33.28!

With just one heat left to swim, it was a nervewracking wait to see if I had successfully qualified for the semi-final.  I'd done it!  I had qualified in 16th place and had secured a place in Semi-Final No.1, Lane No.8, next to my team mate Laura Kinley who would be swimming in Lane No.7.

Here is a link to take you to an interview after my race:

Click HERE to watch full interview

50m Breaststroke Semi-Final (Day 1)

Wow! What a feeling...... due to swimming in Lane No.8 (Closest to the camera) I was first to walk onto the poolside when my name was called..... I was VERY nervous.  However, knowing I had swam a PB in the heat I knew that whatever I did would be a great achievement as I hadn't expected to make any semi-finals.  Once everyone was on the poolside, we were called to the starting blocks.  'Take your marks..... GO!!'  We were off!!  This was the most AMAZING buzz I had ever experienced, I swam as fast as I could, touching the timing pads and looked up, I had climbed a place in my heat, finishing 7th in a slightly slower time of 33.38, but I was so happy!!

At the end of the second semi-final, the results were shown on the scoreboard, I had successfully finished 15th overall in the Women's 50m Breaststroke Event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games!! Tomorrow was a day off before returning to the pool on Saturday for more racing.  At the end of the session, I got to see my mum, dad and younger brother, Harry, it was lovely to see them as I hadn't seen them since I left the train station at Lancaster on Sunday.

They were very proud......



Opening Ceremony of the XX Commonwealth Games

Wednesday 23rd July 2014

(A day to remember)

Everybody was excited, we had waited until almost the end of the Opening Ceremony before we had our 'moment'.  As 'Isle of Man, you may now enter' was announced, my heart was pounding!  There were thousands of people in the stadium, the atmosphere was electric, the 2014 Commonwealth Games were almost open, this was a moment I will remember for the rest of my life!  I videoed the whole lap as we walked around Celtic Park, click below to watch as the Isle of Man Team entered the Stadium.

Click HERE to watch my memorable moment entering the Opening Ceremony

My Mum and I hit the BBC News Headlines!

My Mum and I make it onto the BBC Sports News Headlines

on the first day of competition!

Please click HERE to take you to the full report.....