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Favourite event: 50m Butterfly – with fins! Makes you feel you are skipping along the water.
Finest ever performance/Why: Olympic Trials 200Fly. I was so nervous and really don’t know how I kept it together. I had been practising my race plan for a while, and just focused on keeping to it. It worked brilliantly. I’m so excited to be going to the Olympics.
First senior international meet: Was part of a British Team that competed at the Japan International meet in Chiba at the end of the summer (2007). My first major event was the European Championships in Eindhoven 2008, we won silver in the 4x2FR breaking the Commonwealth Record.
Role models: I don’t really have any, but I do look up to club mates who constantly train hard but do not qualify for teams. I admire their commitment and attitude.
My aspirations are: Getting to an Olympics was my first goal, now I aim to win Olympic gold and a world record would be nice too. Winning a gold in 2008 would be great but if not then London 2012. Actually, I will keep going until I get one!
Tip for the top: Treat every experience as an opportunity to swim your best.
Life after swimming: Travel the world. Swimming takes me to many places but doesn’t allow me to explore.
Music: Depends on my mood, but anything. Australian music is not that good, although I do like Silverchair and Powderfinger.
If I wasn’t a swimmer I would be a: Really fat! I love food. I’d just be a normal teenager I think.
Football, Cricket or Rugby: None. I am getting into Aussie Rules football now though. I have been in Melbourne since August 2007, so it is beginning to make sense. I support Collingwood, who are based in Melbourne.
Describe yourself in three words: Mellow / Determined / Happy
Would most like to meet: Would love to meet The Queen, or someone with exactly the same name as me, that would be quite fun.
Most prized possession: My ‘Pink Book’. My friend Amy Kennard made a book for me containing photos of all my friends and old club mates, and gave it to me at my leaving party before my family and I moved to Australia.
Biggest influence on career: My coaches. Tony Beckley was the coach that started me swimming. Rohan Taylor my current coach is moving me on.
What the main difference between training in Australia vs UK?
The Australian attitude towards swimming is different. They make hard work fun. As a training group we are very relaxed and often go to the beach together after meets.
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