Chelsey Wilson December Fermanagh Herald Sports Personality
Twenty two-year old swimmer Chelsey Wilson capped off her comeback year with victories in the Irish Open – and picked up the Fermanagh Herald Sports Personality of the Month fro December.
Golds in the 100m and 200m backcrawl were the order of the day, Chelsey capitalised on personal bests in the Ulster Open in her return to competitive action in November.
“I started back training in February and my first big competition was in November, that was the Ulster Opens, which is where I got my personal bests. In the month after, December, I had the Irish championships,” Chelsey explained.
“I done the 100m and 200m backcrawl. My favourite is the 200 backcrawl, and I was quite surprised I won the 100 because I would be more of an endurance racer.
“In the backcrawl event here might have been 50 competing – there’s heats and then there are finals in the evening.”
Chelsey took a year out in 2012, before returning to a competitive level at the start of 2013.
“I had been out a year, it was really difficult to get back and fit. What happened was that I was doing my Level two coaching and Paul Rodgers, who was taking it, was a really good coach and was interested in me getting back into it.
“I’m coached by Peter Hill.”
Chelsey has a dual-membership with Larne and Enniskillen.
“The next big race is the end of February, its called the Dave McCullough Memorial Gala in Limerick, we’re in the long course season now which is my preferred course.
“Preparation is going well, I’m training very hard – I’m doing 20 hours in the pool, which is double what I did the last time I swam – and five hours in the gym. I think I needed the mental break more than anything – I think I was exhausted by it all.”
She concluded: “I’m definitely more determined now and want to do it properly.”
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