Shropshire swimmer Rachael Kelly is eyeing a podium finish at this year’s World University Games.
Shropshire swimmer Rachael Kelly is eyeing a podium finish at this year’s World University Games.
Kelly, 23, is a student at Loughborough College, and will be representing Great Britain as part of their squad at the Games in Chinese Taipei from August 19 to 30.
Held biennially in major cities across the globe the World University Games (WUGs) sees athletes come together to compete across numerous sports, with the Summer Universiade the second largest multi-sport event after the Olympics.
At the last Games held in Gwangju, South Korea, Team GBR recorded its biggest medal haul in ten years, with 12 per cent of athletes medalling – a total of 11 podium finishes split between three gold, four silver and four bronze.
And Kelly is relishing the atmosphere of the occasion in Chinese Taipei, firmly setting her sights on a medal.
“I’m excited to do it,” said the Market Drayton swimmer. “I’ve never done it before, I’ve known people who have done it before and they say it is one of the best experiences they’ve ever had – I’m really happy and looking forward to swimming out there.
“It’s a big Games – it’s not just swimming, it’s been a good few years [since I experienced that multi-game atmosphere].
“I went to the Youth Olympics in 2010 in Singapore, which is a similar kind of thing, I saw lots of other sports, I also went to the Commonwealth Games in 2014, it is a mix of athletes and it should be good.
“Obviously I hope to make a final, hopefully get a medal and set a personal best.”
After missing out on a place at Rio 2016, Kelly took a five-month break from the sport, her first gap of more than four weeks since she started swimming competitively as a teenager.
“This season has been totally different to anything I’ve ever done before, so I was just trying to get back swimming and get fit again,” she said.
“I’ve been swimming competitively since I was 13, and I’ve never had a break longer than three or four weeks.
“I graduated from university in September, and finished my degree. I had the time off and wanted to get back in by the end of it.
“I became head coach of a swimming program for Energy Standard – it let me see things from another perspective and I’m glad I made a decision to go back.”