Consistency key to O’Connor’s ambitions

The Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist, who was recently announced as part of the Great Britain team selected for the LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships, shares her ambitions for the upcoming months, as well as an insight into her new setup. After twelve years as part of the National Centre Bath, the medley specialist is beginning her pre-season in new surroundings, having made the move north to the National Centre Loughborough.

A new season and a new start, how are things going so far?

We’re maybe four or five weeks in to pre-season now. It’s really good and obviously quite a big change for me because I’m here in Loughborough, but I’m absolutely loving it. I think, touchwood, I’ve settled in well and everyone’s made me feel so welcome, so yeah it’s been a great start to the Olympic season. Training’s been really tough but that’s what I wanted, a fresh start and a change of environment and I’m really enjoying it.

What brought on the decision to make the change?

I think it was a combination of things, but I wanted to get the best out of myself this year and in order to do that I knew I needed to change something. I love Bath, it’s my home, it’s where my family live and where my friends are. The people that I trained with and Dave (McNulty) in Bath were like my second family so it’s hard but I think it was the right decision.

What is the key for you over the next twelve months?

One hundred percent getting that consistency, and also getting that consistency at a high level. I have struggled with that in the past with my health problems, so that’s my aim this year, just to get consistent. Especially this period from September through to Christmas, as I’ve never really had a good block of training for a long time, so I’m really excited about hopefully getting a great block that sets me up for the rest of the year.

You’ve been named on the team for the LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships in Glasgow - what are you expecting from that?

I’m hoping to just have some performances that boost my confidence this side of Christmas. I love racing short course, it’s good fun even if I’m probably better at long course, but I do really enjoy the short course circuit. There’s a few more competitions this year with the ISL’s, which I’m doing one or two of those I think, but it’s really exciting this time of year because you are just getting fit and getting back into it with some racing. Short course is definitely different to long course but it does give you an idea of what’s to come, so hopefully I can put in some good performances and that gives me a great platform for the long course.