Student sticks her oar in for 2012
A Bracknell & Wokingham College student is juggling
coursework and canoe paddles as she bids to bring medals
back to Berkshire in 2012.
Jess Walker, 19, studies A Levels at the
college between major events in her chosen field, canoeing.
Jess represented Team GB for
sprint racing in Beijing 2008 aged only 18 and
already has gold and silver medals from the Junior European
Championships, and two bronze medals from the Junior Marathon
Championships.
She
said:
“Life’s pretty hectic! I’m
training three times a day, six days a week right now. It’s too
cold to canoe over here, so I’m running, swimming, and going abroad
to cross-country ski and get proper practice in warmer water.”
Now taking a Media A Level, Jess is doing her
second A Level at the college, fitting in her studies where she
can.
“It’s difficult to squeeze
the work in around my sport, and it’ll only get worse as 2012 gets
closer. I think it’s very important to make the effort though as a
sporting career is pretty short, and I’ll need to have
something else to do when I can’t compete
anymore!
Despite having half a mind on her studies,
Jess is still some years away from fully planning life after
Olympic competition.
“It’s not an exaggeration how
amazing the Olympic Games are. Beijing was
incredible and I only want to make sure I get to
London 2012. After that I’ll have a year out, and then I’ll be
thinking about Rio 2016.
“I want to win the most medals I
can – winning one gold with the current crop of Team GB
athletes is hardly enough to get noticed anymore, so I want two or
three! At the moment I just want to train and take each day, and
each year at a time.”
Lee Spindlow, Bracknell & Wokingham
College Sports Coordinator, said:
“Part of the college’s sports commitment is to
make sure more elite athletes, like Jess, are spotted and given the
help to make sport their career.
“I wish Jess lots of luck for her 2012
ambitions and hope the college can boast more Olympians in years to
come!”