Looking back over the summer of training in preparation for individual and crew selections. Every day is essential to secure the best possible training that will elicit the greatest changes. What is the smallest change you can make that will give the biggest difference?
Individual push rankings were the first hurdle to overcome, with the top 8 ranked brakemen and 2 wild card places being awarded for the short list and to attend further evaluations on ice in Latvia. Testing was extremely tough as it was the climax of the summer training. With all athletes on the long list attending, a total of 22 men for a possible 10 places. A total of 6 pushes were required in order to complete the test, taking a total of 2 hours to complete. Looking at the performances as the testing went on it was clear to see what times were required. Trying to find 0.01 of a second is like trying to work at 101%. I was able to produce my best performances and secured a wild card place, also being put on the short list for the Olympic selections.
I left Bath to return home for a week to undertake a week of tapering, complete my masters degree and spend some time with my friends and family. There is nothing quite like home comforts and a roast made by your mum to make you happy. As well as undertaking tapering and final preparations for ice trials. I was also contacted by the BBC who did a short piece on TV along with an interview with BBC radio Kent. This was a whole new experience for me and one which I had been prepared for by Team GB. It is a hard balancing act to manage training, recovery, media and mental preparations.
Arriving at the airport in GB kit meeting up with team mates preparing to travel together is an amazing experience. People are always curious as to what team we are, what we do and they always say good luck. As a team we all get on very well which can be hard at times when the person you share a room with is also a rival. A long day of travel can take it out of you, waiting around to get on the plane, transfers and eventually getting to your room. As Latvia has an ice push track our first day was spent familiarising ourselves with the sled and getting back to terms with the ice. This was my final session before individual testing the following day. Duration of the test was quicker as there were fewer guys testing and a very efficient turnaround from the coaching staff. Over the rest of the week crew pushing became the main focus. Being placed on different handles and pushing with different guys is always a challenge but on in which you have to adapt to quickly in order to establish correct timing and loading into the sled. All brakemen and drivers try to find the best possible combinations for the quickest start times. This is not a simple as just putting the fast guys on the sled as there maybe additional weight added to compensate for body weight. Pushing at 100% everyday physically and mentally hard, as my body weight dropped by half a stone over the week.
As the saying goes hard work pays off. Having given the selection panel a headache as all guys and girls pushed extremely well. We had to wait to find out what brakemen would be selected. After a wait that seems like an eternity, with every noise from my phone making me rush to check it. It was announced that I would be part of the GB3 sled with Will Golder as my driver. This is a good result for me and proves that anything is possible given the right attitude and commitment to achieve your goals. With the Winter Olympics 120 days away and a whole season to get through anything can happen.
“you got a dream, go get it. Don’t ever let someone tell you that you cant do something because they can’t do it themselves.”
