Hi there

Well what a busy and hectic April I have had and it’s not over yet.

I came home on the Sunday after the pre Olympic Team Camp in Sydney and could not wait to get home and see my three gorgeous puppies. They missed me of course  Then the next day I had to drive up to Toowoomba where I visited some schools and swimming clubs for a couple of days. It was great to catch up with everyone up there. They are always so friendly. Then I came home but the very next day I had to jump on a plane and head back down to Sydney again.

This time for the launch of the Olympic Uniform the Australian Team will wear in London. It was great to meet up with the other Australian Olympic Team members and we looked pretty amazing in our stunning new Olympic outfits.

As soon as I got home from Sydney I was back into training again. No rest for the wicked they say. I also had quite a few media and sponsor commitments to fit in as well as going to the footy to watch my ‘fave’ footy team THE BRISBANE BRONCOS win their games.

I also had a great chat with “Labby, Abby and Stav” from B105 on the radio. It was good to chat again. It’s been a while since we caught up. I have been to Suncorp Stadium a few times to watch the Broncos play and was actually a guest speaker in the Premier Room where I met all the boys and was able to have a chat to my favourite Bronco – Darren Lockyer. Meeting Darren, Corey, Sammy, Dale and everyone was the highlight of that night definitely – and they looked after me so well – thanks for that guys

O and of course the Broncos won the game – woohoo.

The Age Nationals were on in Brisbane (Chandler) the next week and that is my home pool so our training sessions were kind of all over the place so we weren’t interrupting the aspiring Olympians doing a fantastic job at the Championships – well done to all the swimmers who competed – I know you did the best you could do. That meet is the one all age swimmers train so hard for and aspire to compete at for a whole year. I popped in to watch a few races on the last night. My last Age Nationals were also at Chandler back in 2005 so it brought back some great memories. It was also great to meet a few of the swimmers. Well done to you all.

I have been to the beach with my pups most weekends since I got back. They just love running in the water and along the beach – ahhh – freedom. Also went to my gorgeous nephews Christening this month too. He is such a cutie and such a good baby.

I spoke with Benny Ikin and Dobbo on the DeadSet Legends radio program on Triple M today. With less than 100 days to go until the Olympics I enjoyed chatting to them about what I’ve been doing and what is coming up.

I will be zooming off again this week heading down to Canberra to attend a relay camp at the AIS. I hope you guys turn on some warm weather for we Queenslanders. We aren’t big fans of your cold, windy, wet weather. Fingers crossed for some higher temperatures than you’ve been experiencing down there lately

I’ll write again next month and catch you up on my news – until then,

Bye for now      

                      Jess

Hello to you all again

Well I’ve just arrived home after a HUGE week and a bit. Firstly I flew down to Adelaide to compete at the Olympic Selection Trials then straight after they were done the whole team flew up to Sydney for our first pre Olympic Team Camp.

I’m so happy with my results from the trials. After last year which was full of sickness and disappointments I couldn’t be more over the moon than I am right now.

We went down to Adelaide a couple of days before the Australian Champs started on the Thursday. Last year I had a bad year with my health and I was so disappointed with my times and results; I promised myself…now that I was feeling 100% again I would give my races everything I had.

I had the best swim meet I can remember since the World Selection Trials in 2009.

My 100 butterfly was first up on the first day. My heat and semi swims were fantastic – I won both of those swims and the times were great (even though they weren’t PBs). I finished second in the final but again I improved on my heat and semi time and I was on my THIRD OLYMPIC TEAM – YAY !!!!!

My next race was the 200m fly. The heat and semi for that race felt easy so I went into the final feeling happy and self assured. I did a good time in the final although it was nowhere near my PB but that’s ok – it gives me something to work on for LONDON and I won that race … so that made me happy as well.

The last race I had was the 50 fly. I am definitely not a sprinter but came out and swam like a champ J I was fastest qualifier into the semis and then the final. I was very surprised but also over the moon with my times (which were post suit PBs).

I went into the final of the 50 feeling confident and ready to race but when I dived in I swallowed a mouthful of water. It wasn’t a big deal but it threw a spanner into the start of my race and in a 50 you cannot afford to have anything go wrong.

Anyway, I finished second in that race (which isn’t an Olympic event) and even swam close to my semi time so I was happy with that race too.

My coach Stephan is amazing and I really want to thank him for helping me achieve my goals and realising my dreams.

After the meet was over we all went to Sydney. I got to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge while I was down there. Haha – looks like I am becoming a bridge climber because I have also been on our very own Story Bridge back in Brisbane.

We had an awesome time in Sydney bonding like a good team should. It was great and the start of more exciting things to come… I am sure.

After I arrived home from Sydney I was straight back to training the very next day, no rest for the wicked After training on Monday night my husband and I drove to Toowoomba for the night as we had an early start the next morning.

Bella Magazine had invited me to speak to several schools and groups about setting goals and how I have overcome my biggest hurdles.

I had a great day speaking with the girls from Fairholme College, St Saviours School, Toowoomba Christian College and also the City Womens Group.

The very next day I was on a plane heading down to Sydney to help launch the London 2012 Adidas Olympic Uniform.  We had a ball strutting our stuff down the Catwalk and getting to try on all the gear we will be wearing over in London.

Now I’m home again and settling back into training so I can be ready to swim against all my old rivals (and some new ones too I expect) at the Olympics in London in July.

They are only 17 weeks away and I am guessing there will be a lot of pain and hard work in the lead up to my third Olympics and I know that time will just fly by.

Thanks for all the support and encouragement AND ALL THE CONGRATULATIONS  I received from everyone after my swims at the trials in Adelaide. I really appreciate it and love knowing there are so many people cheering me on at home.

I’ll write again next month

Bye for now

            Jess   

Hello Again!!!

Well there are only about 20 days to go until the Olympic Selection Trials. I have been working hard at training fixing all the small things that need to be seen to, as well as the “hard yards” I have to put in twice a day, every day. I’m looking forward to ‘taper’ which is where you still do quality training but less quantity. I might even be able to sleep in on a couple of days (if I’m lucky). Woohoo!!!

This month has been full of training, one Swimming Queensland initiative here in Brisbane and a training camp thrown in to keep me busy.

A group of swimmers chosen by Swimming Queensland went to the Suncorp Piazza at South bank here in Brisso to speak to quite a few swimmers about our experiences over the years of our competition swimming. I think it the whole concept was very positive and the swimmers and their parents who were there seemed to be listening intently as we all took turns sharing our experiences. I really enjoyed the day.

Half of this month was devoted to a training camp on the Sunshine Coast. Our whole squad went up the coast for a fortnight where we did some intense training……checking where we are with our preparations for the Olympic Selection Trials in Adelaide next month. It was a good ‘hit out’ . we also got to speak to some swim clubs up on the Sunny Coast as well. It’s always good to have a chat with the swimmers…they seem so genuinely interested in what you have to say.

Oh well, I probably won’t get a chance to write again until after the Olympic Selection Trials now……so fingers crossed for some successful swimming at the new Adelaide Aquatic Centre in March.

Bye for now      

Hello to you all

I hope you had a happy and safe New Year. My New Year’s Eve was ok. I couldn’t get up to any mischief because I am right in the middle of a training block leading up to the Olympic Trials which are on in about 7 weeks. In fact – at the moment I am away on a training camp experiencing a lot of pain – haha – all for the greater good though.

Wow. Didn’t this year start off HOT here in Queensland? I was actually looking forward to going to training each day there for a while so I could jump into the beautiful cool water. I am definitely not complaining about the heat though. I LOVE summer and would rather be melting than freezing any day. It was really hot for my poor dogs though. We ended up buying them one of those plastic shells and put some water in them for the dogs to sit in. They didn’t last too long though before they got a good chewing.

I managed to finally go on my birthday present trip (almost a month later). We zoomed over to Tangalooma and stayed for a couple of days. I LOVED feeding the dolphins over there. I had a really great time and our guide Reece made it all the more enjoyable for us. I highly recommend it if you get a chance to head over there.

I have also been enjoying watching the cricket and the tennis this month. The cricket boys have been doing some amazing stuff on the field GO AUSSIES and the tennis players are all looking very colourful on the court while they are doing their ‘thing’.

I have also done a few sponsor/charity events this month. I chatted on the radio to promote the 24hr treadmill challenge to help the fight against Leukemia and then zoomed up to Jetts Fitness at Morayfield to take part and be there on the day.

Being a part of the Queensland Academy of Sport i often get the opportunity to talk to young up and coming swimmers about swimming, training, and life outside of sport. 

I recently had a chance to chat with the JX Bronze Swimmers at Chandler Pool about balancing school, training, diet, and life away from the pool.

Speaking of charities I have linked up with Asthma Australia this month. Being a chronic asthmatic I really appreciate all they are doing to help others like me and I am more than happy to support this great organisation.

Yesterday I went to the Suncorp Piazza at Southbank in Brisso and had a chat with heaps of young swimmers who are aspiring to achieve their goals in the pool.

Brenton Rickard, Christian Sprenger, Kyle Richardson, Kylie Palmer, Libby Trickett, Steph Rice, Yolane Kukla and myself had a good time speaking about our experiences at swim meets and also shared our tips and advice for training. I hope that we all were able to give everyone there the information for which they were looking to be able to achieve their dreams and goals.

After that finished I zoomed home, threw my bag into the car and drove to the Sunny Coast where I am right now on my two week training camp.

Have an awesome AUSTRALIA DAY on the 26th everyone. I LOVE AUSTRALIA DAY. Aussies rule !!!!

Enjoy being back at school (if you go to school that is)

Have fun and take care,

I hope 2012 is amazing for you all.

HAPPY NEW YEAR