Bath-based swimmers Jessica Fullalove, Cameron Kurle and Anna Hopkin have been selected to represent Team England at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in Queensland, Australia.
Fullalove is heading out to her second games, having represented Team England at Glasgow 2014. The Oldham-born swimmer made the selection time at the Swim England National Winter Championships last month, taking home the 100m Backstroke title in the process.
Commenting on her selection, Fullalove said: “I competed for team England in 2014 at Glasgow, I was only young and it was an amazing experience. Now I want to go there and do some damage, put my foot down and show how much I’ve grown. I’m looking forward to it and to get to put on that Team England hat is a great honour.”
Hopkin will be competing at her first major international meet, though she has had much success on the domestic circuit. She put in impressive performances at the National Winter Champs, and took gold in the 100m Freestyle.
Hopkin said: “I am incredibly proud to be selected for Team England at the Commonwealth Games and be part of such a talented and inspiring team.
“Being new to the England team I am excited to learn from others, experience a new level of competition and rise to the occasion. The atmosphere will be incredible and I’m really looking forward to competing amongst some of the best in the world.”
For Kurle, this is his first Commonwealth Games. The 20-year-old has some experience of major international meets though, being selected for the 200m Freestyle at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and swimming in the heats.
Kurle said: “It means the absolute world to me to be selected for Team England at the Gold Coast. I went to Rio but that was for Great Britain, to represent England is an absolute honour. The Commonwealths are a massive thing and I am excited to go.”
These swimmers are three of 24 athletes to be announced, and will be joining the other 15 announced following the first phase of selections by Swim England last October. Also announced is another addition to the Team England coaching staff, Millfield School’s Director of Swimming, Euan Dale.
Commenting on the announcement, Team Leader Grant Robins said: “The announcement today completes our team for the 2018 Commonwealth Games and we’ve got a blend of experienced athletes and some new younger swimmers in our team, this is what the selection policy was designed to achieve.
“We had a great National Winter Championships in Sheffield last month and it’s looking good for the Gold Coast. Hopefully by the end of the six days of competition in Australia this April we will have a few medals in the bag, personal best times achieved and lots of great experiences gained ready for the road ahead.”
The news comes just three months before the opening ceremony of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games on 4th April 2018.
