Fuji Xerox Australia Sponsorships

Well what a few months I have had! After feeling great in training for a long time and looking forward to racing so much, I didn't make the team for the World Championships to be held in Melbourne in March. This is the first time I have missed the team since being the youngest member of the 2002 Commonwealth Games team as a 15yr old.

So, as can be expected, it was a very hard thing for me to deal with. I have no excuses for swimming the way I did, it just didn't come together on the day, and in a sport where the difference comes down to the smallest of margins (I should know, having missed a spot on the team by 0.01seconds) I was pretty devastated.

After nationals, we remained in Brisbane for an extra week to compete in the QLD State Titles. I won the 50m freestyle, for the 6th time, and swam faster in my 100m freestyle than at the Nationals, so it was good to leave Brisbane having achieved something.

I have already learnt so much from my experience, and although it was very hard to be motivated and want to swim for a few weeks, I have had a complete turn around and am as happy, if not more, than I ever was with my swimming and training.

I was so glad to go home for Christmas. I spent it with my mum, dad and my two sisters, plus the beloved dog. We spent most of our time in Fingel Head Beach, in Northern NSW. It was so great to relax with the family for 6 days, something I haven't really had the opportunity to do since moving to Canberra 2 years ago.

I then spent New Years in Melbourne with my boyfriend (we both won bronze in the 50m freestyle at Nationals. How weird!) and his family before going on a national women’s sprint camp at Maroochydore on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. It was a great camp, with plenty of rain, and I was lucky enough to room with fellow Fuji Xerox athlete, Libby Lenton.

So with a couple of weeks until uni starts back, things are back to normal in my life.

All the best to Libby and Jess for their training towards the World Champs.

Thanks for your support and look forward to catching up soon.

Alice x