AFTER missing last year’s World Championships through injury, Edinburgh rower Polly Swann is keen to make up for lost time in Rio at the Olympic Games.
Swann, a former George Heriot’s pupil, won gold as part of the Great Britain women’s eight at the European Championship in Germany in May and looks likely to be on the plane to Rio as part of Team GB in a little over two months’ time.
It was a back injury that ruled the 27-year-old out of action last year but after a winter of hard work she is back in the boat and raring to go, evident by helping GB claim silver at the World Cup in Lucerne at the weekend.
“To be selected for Rio would be absolutely massive, it’s been a dream of mine since I can barely remember,” said Swann. “This season has been a rollercoaster in terms of getting myself re-established on the team. “I have goals to medal at Rio and, ultimately, I want to win at Rio.
“I have been trying to affirm myself and get myself into the best boat that I possibly can to achieve those goals.
“It’s been interesting along the way, through the trials system that we do, so hopefully now it should be relatively plain sailing through to the Olympics.
“I feel like I’ve been trying to make up for lost time a little bit, in such a big team you have to be a real team member and valued within that team.”
Swann's team-mate Karen Bennett has similar aspirations for Rio.
“It would feel incredible to be going to Rio and on that plane,” said the 27-year-old, who also rows for Leander. “This year has just been one step at a time and not letting myself think too far ahead, so to be on that plane and to think I am going would be amazing to achieve that goal.
“It’s been a goal of mine for years and years, but realistically the goal has become achievable in the last two or three years. It has been very intense but it has been really fun.
“We all get on really well, we’re all settled and there seems to be a really good crew bond, we are all aiming for the same thing.”
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