Biography

My sporting career started off at Northampton Swimming club when I was nine years old. Believe it or not my parents had to force me to start swimming lessons – I wasn’t really keen on the idea of swimming and had a fear of going under water! It wasn’t until I went on the yearly family holiday in France where I made friends with a girl who taught me that putting your head in the water isn’t all that scary!

I wasn’t a natural swimmer and for many years struggled with my freestyle, my breastroke being faster! However, in my first few years in swimming I was lucky to be coached by people who believed in me and believed that I did have talent.

My current swim coach, Mark Perry, has always said to me ‘hard work beats talent’ and I‘ve always reminded myself of that through out my time of being a swimmer. I still reference back to that quote now. I gave 100% in every session, even when I was struggling to make the times and would be hanging off the back of the other swimmers. I just dug in deep and knew one day my hard work and dedication would pay off. As I got older, I started to become quite successful in swimming. My events being 1500m, 800m, 400m freestyle and 400m IM. I made The British Swimming National Championships twice and held county records for the 1500m.

It was from my endurance based swim training that I discovered I was pretty good at running. My primary school, Bugbrooke Primary, picked me to compete in the Woodford Halse Schools Cross Country Race after I’d done well in their mini trials. I remember being so excited about the race and was so chuffed when I came first. I certainly didn’t think then that my running would help me win World Triathlon Championship Gold! I continued to run through secondary school, competing in the National English Schools Cross Country, my best result being 4th at Liverpool this year.

My maths teacher recommended me to join the local athletics club to do some run training. I knew it would be a struggle to fit run training in around my 18hours in the pool but I loved running and wanted to give it a go! So I began doing one running session a week, on a Thursday, straight after my second swim of the day! I joined the middle distance squad at Rugby and Northampton Athletics Club with Neil Glover becoming my coach. I also competed in Track and Field for my school and athletics club, I still do now! Last year I was ranked 7th in the country for my age at 3000m.

I came across triathlon in 2005. A few people suggested I should give it a go as they noticed I was a good endurance runner and swimmer and figured I would be good at triathlon! It was my Dad who really encouraged me to give it a go. I remember it was a Sunday afternoon, after the Midland Swimming Championships where I had swam disastrously, that my Dad took me out for the first time on a racing bike. One to clear my head and two, to see if I was any good! To this day I still find the best way to clear my mind and de-stress is to jump on the bike or head out for a run! The ride was a success and from that day I adopted the racing bike which was initially meant for my brother!

I was really keen to start getting involved with Triathlon so my Dad contacted the East Midlands Triathlon development officer to see how I could get involved more with the sport. They were super help and organised for me to attend several of their mini training days and races. It was at one of these days where I first met my triathlon coach Ben Bright. From working with the East Midlands at grass roots I quickly found my self on the British Triathlon World Class Programme, hastily working up the ladder.

Ben began coaching me and I regularly found myself attending Loughborough at the weekends. My parents being kind enough to run me up, hang around for the 2 – 3 hours where I would train and then drive me home as I fell asleep, being so tired from the training! I remember when I fist began heading out for Saturday morning rides with some of the GB triatheltes and being star struck! I also remember ending up in a ditch with Dan Salcedo, Head GB men’s coach, during one of my first rides!

My first triathlon was in September 2005, it was the Just Racing Roade Triathlon. I remember being so nervous but once the whistle went for the swim start I loved every minute of it! From then on I really did see my self sticking with sport!

I would not have believed it in 2005 if someone told me I would qualify for the European Youth Relay Team and the World Junior Triathlon Championships in 2006. I went to the World Champs held in Lausanne with no real expectation, just to gain the experience from the event. I came 11th and was over the moon with my result!

The following winter Ben, my coach, and I identified the aspects of triathlon that I needed to work on to improve. We identified, that although good, my running could be better. I worked really hard on my running fitness and technique through out the 2006 winter and early months of 2007. To this day my running is something that still has many aspects which can be improved and I’ve been working really closely with my coach, my strength and conditioning coach and physio in order to make progress. Having access to these provisions through being on the British Triathlon World Class Development programme has been extremely invaluable to me.

In 2007, I was lucky to have the chance to race on the French Grand Prix Triathlon circuit. My first race of the year was probably my scariest, as I ran into the sea facing raging waves – to this day Ben still laughs at the fact I fell over as I reached the water as I was hit by a wave! I came 5th, it was a result that got Ben and I excited and made us realise that if I continued to work hard this season could be a good one.

Further success came as I won my first British title, Senior Women’s National Sprint Champion, at the Corus elite Series, Strathclyde. I also reached the podium at a couple of French Grand Prixs before going to Copenhagen and winning the Junior European Triathlon championships. I will always remember that race, being out on my own from the first transition!

My year was topped off with winning the World Junior Triathlon Championships. I had worked so hard for that event and was ecstatic as I crossed the finish line. What was extra special, was seeing my Mum, Dad and Brother, George, in the crowd who had yet again travelled to come and support me. To this day I really believe that my family have played a huge part in my success in Triathlon, we really do work as a team.

After the races had finished `I found myself still being awarded for my successful sporting year. I was privileged to be named the BOA’s triathelte of the year and British Triathlon’s Elite Female Triathelte Of The Year. I was also short listed for the BBC Young Sports Personality Of The Year and Sunday Times Young Sports Women of the year. November the 26th was a memorable day for the family, I passed my driving test (3rd time lucky!) and was crowned East Midlands Junior Sports Personality Of The Year – it was my Dad’s birthday too! Being voted into these awards means a lot to me, as not only myself but triathlon as a sport is getting the recognition it deserves.

In 2008 Ben and I decided to step it up and have  a go at the Olympic Distance. I remember having a conversation with Chirs Jones, who at the time was Head Women’s Coach, before my race at the European Junior Champs in 07. Before I had even won my European title, he told Ben and I that he believed I could have a shot at qualifying for Beijing. There and then it was beyond my wildest dreams – but I knew if Chris was saying it and Ben wasn’t disagreeing, that it was not an unrealistic target.

I wanted to race my first Olympic Distance at the end of 2007. However, due to being only 17, I wasn’t allowed! But I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and things worked out well when I was allowed to race Ishigaki World Cup in April 08, the day after my 18th birthday, and landed my self on the podium. This made me the youngest person ever to podium at a World Cup.

After that race I placed 2nd, 4th and 11th at three more Worlds Cups. The 4th spot at Madrid World Cup made me eligible for selection at the Olympic Games. A couple of weeks after official being named as part of Team GB for the Beijing Olympics, I was crowed British National Champion, at the National Champs in Wales.

At the end of July, I bored a plane to Korea for the Team GB triathlon holding camp. My couple of weeks there went really well – things were looking good for the Games. I was yet to find out a nightmare was about to begin.

The Saturday, Sunday and Monday around my race at the Games were a pretty tough few days! I arrived in Beijing really raring to go and race on Monday. It was my worst nightmare when I fell ill on Saturday evening, continuously vomiting. The Team GB Doctor was fabulous and did everything he could to try and help me recover as quickly as possible, it was pretty hard to identify where my illness came from though and left us with a real guessing game. I did my best to stay positive and was determined to get on that start line on Monday morning and give the race my best shot! I said to Mum- 'I don't care if someone has to push off the pontoon swim start - I'm starting that race!'. Having my family out here really helped. They stuck by me like extra strong super glue, stayed positive and did everything they could to help me recover.

But apart from the nightmare few days, I had a fantastic time in Beijing and will remember the experience forever. I also believe the experience is invaluable in regards to preparation for the London 2012 Games.