Stepping up on the blocks, slight adjustment to the goggles, hand placed on the hat – its firm. Slow the breathing and go through the motions. Clean dive and no stopping until the finish line.
Katie Birchall, 28, from Aughton, Near Ormskirk continues to train through the winter coming off the back of her biggest sporting achievement.
Katie has had horses since she was five years old, with some coaching she began to compete. As well as horses, she has done a few triathlons in Cheshire and Liverpool whilst winning the team relay in 2010 in the Olympic race. Katie enjoys mountain biking too, and on weekends she can be found going to North Wales with her partner with the bikes on the back of the car.
But that’s not what Katie does. They are hobbies – this her sport. Katie Birchall is, an international swimmer.
Katie managed to compete in the FINA World Masters in Gothenburg in Sweden earlier this year.
“I managed to get the 50m backstroke qualifying time, and it was very special to me as I had been away from that level of competition for nine years, I got a PB to get there and the Championships included the Commonwealth Trials. It was amazing swimming against Team GB swimmers before they jetted off to compete in Delhi!”
This comes at a price though. Swimmers are notorious for their early starts and late finishes.
Spending any spare precious times they have in the pool putting stress on relationships with friends and family, whilst trying to balance out a career as well.
“Before Sweden, I knew I had to be the fittest I had ever been. I had been training consistently two- three times a week for a couple of years after my return to the sport. But in January this year I sat down with my coach and discussed my training plan for Sweden, starting it straight away. I swam five pool sessions per week, with three nights and two early mornings, early being 4.45am! As well as in the pool, my training saw me do three gym sessions per week including weights, running, skipping, press ups, squats, tuck jumps and power exercises. Most weekends I tried to do an open water session at the docks, go mountain biking or get the road bike out. At my peak I was swimming around 20,000m per week.
“It was very hard work and I had to make a lot of sacrifices (like not seeing my friends and family as much as I would like, not having much of a social life and competing away a lot) but everyone was very understanding and I knew it would pay off - and thankfully it did!”
In Gothenburg Katie entered four races, but focused on her strongest stroke and her strongest distance.
“I made sure my preparation was exactly the same as it would be for a race over here, rather than doing anything different. I relaxed and talked to friends, put my Ipod on and focused my thoughts much better than I had for the freestyle earlier in the week. I wasn't as nervous and went for it in the 100 backstroke - equalling my PB and missing Gold by a tenth of a second! I was pleased to medal but I don't like coming second, especially not by a tenth of a second! That was something that nagged away at me.”
Katie had a night to re-group and prepare for her 100m backstroke. Second place is good but it’s not great – the taste of medals was too sweet.
“I fired myself up for the 50m backstroke and felt confident and ready to win. The preparation wasn't ideal - it was in an outdoor pool and it was torrential rain with thunder as we all sat in the ready room. The officials were all hiding under huge umbrellas, but as I walked out to the blocks in the pouring rain I still I felt relaxed and very confident, and ready to go out there and win. I was not prepared to settle for second best again.
“When I hit the timing pad I knew the race had been very close, so wasn't sure who had won. We couldn't see the scoreboard from the end of the pool as it was on an angle so I had no idea. The commentator shouted out that I had won and I jumped up and down and punched the air! The first feeling was actually relief as my races earlier in the week hadn't gone as I'd hoped and I didn't want to return home without a Gold medal. I was so relieved that my race had gone to plan and I had shown people what I was capable of! When they announced 'Katie Birchall for Great Britain - World Champion!' It was crazy - I loved every minute of it!”
Katie registered a 31.98 seconds time. Katie trains as a pro whilst offering advice to novice swimmers swimming in her club in Liverpool. She goes back home to her medals in her cabinet, gleaming with desire and the determination of an un-sponsored swimmer.
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