Hope for Jed swimmer Lucy in Olympic trials

Borders swimmer Lucy Hope gave her chances of selection for the GB Olympics team a huge boost last week with record-breaking performances in London.
Lucy HopeLucy Hope
Lucy Hope

The 24-year-old, from Jedburgh, was at the London Aquatics Centre for the 2021 British swimming selection trials and produced her best-ever 100-metre freestyle.

Racing her way to a bronze medal, Lucy clocked 54.19 to touch behind winner Freya Anderson and Anna Hopkin, who each qualified for the Olympic Games in respective efforts of 53.40 and 53.49.

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Edinburgh University student Lucy opened in 26.13 and closed in 28.06 to deliver a new lifetime best, overtaking her own career-quickest of 54.69 from the 2020 British Universities and Colleges Championships.

That put her at number six among the all-time British 100m freestyle performers and also beat the record of fellow Scot Caitlin McClatchey, which had stood for 13 years.

Online articles reckoned Lucy “helps build the case for Great Britain to bring a women’s 400m free relay along on the roster for this summer’s postponed 2020 Olympic Games”.

Winning form on day one, despite a sore neck, in the 200m was complemented by equal second in the 50m and a total of three personal bests for Lucy.

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She said: “I am really happy with all my performances. It was a really positive step forward for me which, in all honestly, I feel has been a long time coming.

“Starting off the week with the 200 freestyle was a nice way to blow off the cobwebs and to go a PB really got me excited for my 100m freestyle, which I’d considered my main event.

"In all honesty, even though I had broken the Scottish record, and a PB of 54.19, I was a little disappointed with my time, especially after how well the 200m had gone and a solid heat swim in the 100m.

“I just thought I could go quicker and break that 54 mark, but, nevertheless, going best times is a great start. I am looking forward to summer meets and, hopefully, I can just build on those swims.”

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Lucy is grateful for all the ongoing Borders support she receives from Roxburgh Sports Council and the George Crawford Trust.

“Especially in these hard Covid times, I wouldn’t be where I am without the continued support,” she added.

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