Because of my build, I can eat just about whatever I want. School usually takes the back seat to swimming, however it is still very important to me that I pass 6th form so that I can carry on and have a successful career after my swimming has finished. There is not much time in my life for the social side. However, this is one of the sacrifices that you make to be a competitive athlete. My social life pretty much revolves around swimming, where most of my friends are.
Competitive swimming is extremely expensive.
It's necessary to travel overseas to get international racing experience. Representing New Zealand at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, being a semifinalist at the Pan Pacific Champs at age 15, reaching seven finals at the FINA 2000 World Cup and being New Zealand Open champion and recordholder in three events. I want to be swimming competitively, having just returned from the Olympics in Athens, where I will have reached the finals and medalled. I also want to attend university. I hope to still be swimming in 10 years, at 26, as women don't peak until their mid to late 20s.