WHILE the vast majority of British swimmers only have eyes for next month’s World Championships in Rome, Jemma Lowe insists she is focused on the bigger picture.
The 19-year-old captured 200m butterfly gold at the British Gas Scottish National Championships but just missed out on a place on the flight to Rome.
Lowe was set a target of going under 2:08.34m to edge Hannah Miley out of the World Championships squad and while she came home ahead of the Scot, she could only manage 2:10.50m.
But Lowe is adamant she will put her disappointment behind her and has already set her sights on Commonwealth Games glory next year.
“The main goal that I really want to achieve in the near future is to get to the Commonwealth Games,” she said.
“I feel that if I keep going the way that I am then there is no reason that I can’t get to Delhi and come away with some medals.
“I just need to keep working hard and enjoying my swimming and I’m sure I can achieve my goals.”
As well as her desire to win gold for Britain, Lowe – who represented Britain in last year’s Beijing Olympics in the 100m and 200m butterfly - has other reasons for wanting to get to India.
“I went to the Junior Commonwealth games in India a few years ago and I had a fantastic time with all the athletes,”
she added.
“The place was really good and it was great to sample another culture and see another way of life as well as being in the village and big dining room with all your friends- it’s a fantastic experience.
“That is one of the great perks of being a swimmer is that you get to travel the world and see lots of places you otherwise wouldn’t.”
Meanwhile, fellow North- East swimmer Jess Dickons was left disappointed after she also missed out on Rome World Championship qualification.
The 18-year-old Stocktonborn student, who swims for Edinburgh University, finished fourth in the final of 100mk butterfly on Thursday, before grabbing a bronze in the 200m on Saturday night.
Like Lowe, Dickons needed to better Miley’s time from the British Championships in Sheffield back in March but the Stockton flyer was unable to produce the goods when it mattered most.
“It was an okay race but I’m so disappointed,” she said. “I had really high hopes for that one and was desperate to get to Rome. The 200m is my best event so the bronze medal is little consolation really – I’m just gutted to have missed out.
“I was pretty confident beforehand.
I felt great physically before the race but maybe that wasn’t very good for me – maybe I was overly confident.
“But I’ve been feeling really good about my form and the times are going to come soon – I’m sure about that.
“I would have had to get a personal best to qualify but I knew I wasn’t going to be far off if I swam well so it’s really disappointing.
“I guess I’ll move on to the Nationals now and then the short course events later in the year.”
■ British Gas and British Swimming. The nation’s leading energy supplier, British Gas is the Principal Partner of British Swimming, supporting the sport at all levels: ‘From paddling pool to podium’. For more information visit www.britishswimming.org
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