OLYMPIC TRIALS 2012


2012 brings more Olympic excitement than ever, being hosted in our capital, London. The trials are taking place this week for swimming, a sport I have always loved and been involved in for pretty much my whole life, whether that's swimming myself for City of Salford or teaching for Worsley ASC.

Even though I quit swimming a few years ago, the buzz and excitement of watching it gets to me every time. It's a sport that brings joy, nerves, excitement and disappointment. This week, our swimming stars of Britain face all these emotions and more at the British Champs, also known as the Olympic 2012 Trials.

London 2012 Olympic Pool

We've seen some amazing swims, some nail biting finishes and lots of young talent which shows an amazing future for British swimming. 

It's amazing and a little scary when more and more familiar faces are on my television screen swimming for Britain. I am absolutely bursting with pride for all of them no matter what the outcome. 

With our Olympic team looking strong and powerful, Heather Frederikson winning the MC 100m Free and both Hannah Miley and Sophie Allen qualifying for the 200m IM, I cannot wait to feel the nerves and excitement this July. A true, proud Brit.

Talent from your home town and home club is the kind of talent you appreciate the most, knowing the people and the effort put in. Amanda Nugent, taking 3rd place in the semi's and breezing through to the finals of the womens 200m freestyle and Salford swimmers Jaeger Turner and Katrina Alder also making the semi finals for the 100m backstroke.

The most annoying and frustrating thing I have always found with swimming, lies with just how close you can be to winning, losing, having your dreams made or dreams broken. Split seconds come between a triumph and disappointment, and it's the pressure which these professional swimmers face which makes them forget how far they've come and how talented they really are. For example, British Record Holder, Michael Rock, soared ahead in his 200m butterfly final, entering first fastest, only to be pipped into third position within the final 10 metres of the race. The effort, determination that has gone in to that one race over weeks, months, years, to miss out on qualifying for the event at London 2012, should not be forgotten or looked over because of a bronze medal. 

Swimming is a sport that requires a brave face and a strong back bone, it's a tough, tough sport to crack and there's always new talent arising and always disappointment to face. There's good days and bad ones, but there's always chances, and always hope. And that's one thing to remember. In swimming, you don't have 90 minutes to prove yourself, you have one minute, two minutes, and everything you've worked for goes in to that short space of time. It's all about learning from difficulties and channeling the emotion into a positive stride forward.

Go get em' Rocky in the 100m butterfly, we're all so proud of you!

Photography by Abbie Lockitt