The Lowe Down on Melbourne
Tees Active Sports Academy ace and Borough of Stockton Swimming Scheme Star Jemma Lowe competed recently at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. The sixteen year old from Hartlepool competed for Wales and broke the Welsh record in the semi final of the 100m Butterfly and reached the final of both the 100m and 200m Butterfly finishing 7th in the 100m and 6th in the 200m.
We asked Jemma, what did competing at the Games entail and what really goes on behind the scenes.
Jemma’s countdown to the commonwealths commenced when she left for Australia 8 weeks before the games started. The Welsh team were based on the Gold Coast at The Southport School, which had a 12 lane outdoor 50m pool. Jemmas training day consisted of 2 hours in the pool in the morning and a further 2 hours in the evening she also took part in gym-based sessions twice a week.
The team could relax on the beach between sessions but during their stay swimming in the sea on certain days was prohibited due to sightings of great white sharks and the large amounts of stingers (jellyfish) present, fortunately Jemma does not have this problem at Hartlepool Marina!!!
Two weeks before the games commenced the Welsh team moved to their base close to Melbourne. The swimming event, held in the $65 million Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, was filled to its 10,000 capacity each day with screaming fans.
Jemma met Linford Christie in the athlete’s dining room where he passed on some tips on motivation and focus. Jemma only realised who Linford was when one of her teammates explained he was an Olympic Gold medallist. Jemma can be forgiven as she was only two years old when Linford won his medal in Barcelona.
Jemma had the time of her life in Melbourne and says” The commonwealths have given me a real taste for competing in major championships, it was great to come home to see my family and friends but I must admit I do miss the Australian sunshine”.
For further information on Tees Active Sports Academy contact Academy Manager on (01642) 528772 or visit new.teesactivelimited.co.uk