Where It All Began
My swimming journey began at the age of five in America when we were on holiday. We were in the rapids at a water park and I disappeared into the water and popped up a few metres ahead, which I found hilarious at the time. It was after that holiday that my parents decided to put me into swimming lessons.
Fast forward a couple of years to 2007, to another family holiday in Mexico. I jumped into a pool and instinctively started swimming. Seeing how comfortable and capable I was in the water, my parents decided to find a swimming club for me when we returned home. That decision led me to join City of Lincoln Pentaqua, where I progressed through the club's development pathway and began building the foundations of my competitive swimming career.
Finding My Ambition
A significant turning point came when I was 14 years old and Ian Turner returned to the club as Head Coach. His guidance, knowledge, and belief in my potential helped ignite my ambition and elevate my performance. Under his coaching, I achieved a silver medal in the 50m breaststroke at my first British Summer Championships in 2015 at the age of 15. The following year, I won bronze in the same event at the 2016 British Summer Championships and also claimed gold in the 100m freestyle at the English National Championships.
My success continued when I was selected to represent Central England at the School Games in 2016, where I earned a bronze medal as part of the 4x100m medley relay team, swimming the breaststroke leg. The hard work continued, and in 2017 I achieved another major milestone by winning silver in the 200m Individual Medley at the English National Championships in the 17-and-over age category.
Stepping Away from the Sport
Despite these achievements, by the age of 18 I decided to step away from competitive swimming. Other commitments began to take priority, and I found myself gradually losing my passion for the sport. After completing my A-levels, I trained as a teaching assistant and went on to spend a year working at the school where I completed my training.
In 2020, I embarked on a new challenge by starting a Fine Art degree at university. During my second year, I found myself drawn back to the sport that had played such a significant role in my childhood.
Finding My Way Back to Swimming
In the 2021-22 academic year, I joined the university swimming team and began training around five hours per week. Despite having been away from the sport for several years, I managed to improve upon my previous personal best times in both the 50m freestyle and 50m breaststroke during my first year back.
That same year, I qualified for the Winter National Championships and had the opportunity to complete some training sessions with one of the performance squads at City of Sheffield. A couple of the coaches encouraged me to join their Performance 2 squad, but initially I resisted the idea. After competing at the 2023 Winter Nationals, however, I decided to take the leap and commit to the programme to see how far I could push myself.
Returning to Elite Competition
Returning to high-performance training after almost five years away was one of the most difficult challenges I have ever faced. My aerobic fitness had declined significantly, and my body had changed considerably since my teenage years. Rebuilding the physical capacity required to compete at an elite level demanded patience, resilience, and a willingness to push myself every day.
The hard work began to pay off. I qualified for my second Aquatics GB Championships, formerly known as the British Championships or April Nationals (the only other one I had qualified for previously was in 2017), competing in the 50m freestyle. The following year, I qualified in the 50m freestyle, 50m breaststroke, and 100m breaststroke. At those championships, I reached the final of the 50m breaststroke and finished sixth with a personal best performance. It was also during this period that I began sharing my journey on social media, documenting both the successes and challenges of returning to elite competition.
Later that year, I competed at the Winter National Championships in the 50m breaststroke, 100m breaststroke, and 100m individual medley. I reached the final in all three events and narrowly missed the podium in the 50m breaststroke, finishing fourth.
Aquatics GB Championships 2026
Most recently, at the Aquatics GB Championships in April 2026, I competed in the 50m breaststroke, 100m breaststroke, and 50m freestyle. Once again, I reached the 50m breaststroke final and finished with another sixth place, achieving another personal best time. For me, this result represented far more than a placing. It was further proof that persistence, resilience, and a willingness to embrace the process can lead to continued improvement, even after stepping away from the sport for a few years.
Progress Is Not Always Linear
Looking back, my journey has been far from straightforward. It has included early success, time away from the sport, a complete change in direction through education and work, and the challenge of rebuilding myself as an athlete. Alongside my return to competitive swimming, I successfully completed both a Fine Art degree and a Master's degree in Interior Design, demonstrating my commitment to personal growth both inside and outside of sport.
Balancing the demands of higher education with the challenges of elite-level training has taught me valuable lessons in discipline, resilience, time management, and perseverance. These experiences have shaped who I am today and continue to drive me forward. My journey is proof that progress is not always linear, and that stepping away from something does not mean the story is over. Through determination, hard work, and a genuine love for the sport, I have been able to return to high-level competition while continuing to pursue my academic and professional ambitions.
More Than an Athlete: Teaching and Coaching
Today, swimming remains a central part of my life, but my role within the sport has evolved beyond competing alone. Alongside my own training and racing, I work as a swimming teacher, helping young swimmers develop their confidence, skills, and enjoyment in the water. More recently, I have also begun coaching, allowing me to share the knowledge and experiences I have gained throughout my own journey in the sport.
Being involved in swimming as an athlete, teacher, coach, and content creator has given me a unique perspective on the sport and reinforced my passion for helping others achieve their goals. Whether I am chasing my own performance targets, teaching fundamental skills, supporting athletes in their development, or sharing my experiences online, I take great pride in contributing to the swimming community and inspiring the next generation of swimmers.
