A crucial year in prospect for Jess
Date published: 12 March 2015
Jessica Fullalove
Swimming by SIMON SMEDLEY
IT has been a terrific start to 2015 for Royton swimming starlet Jessica Fullalove.
The City of Manchester Aquatics ace, who celebrated her 18th birthday last summer while competing at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, produced a world-class swim at a Berlin international meet.
Competing in the 100m backstroke final, Fullalove stormed to victory in a time of one minute, 0.82 seconds.
That was the 10th fastest time this year so far, while a time of 28.71 seconds in the 50m backstroke handed her a tie with the USA’s Kathleen Baker for 12th place in the current world rankings.
Fullalove also competed in the 200m backstroke, where her hugely-impressive time of 2:11.63 was pipped into the silver medal position by the host country’s Jenny Mensing’s 2:10.79.
Fullalove secured the ISM award for best female performance at the meet while GB team-mate Adam Peaty grabbed the best male vote.
Next up for Fullalove is the Edinburgh International meet at the Royal Commonwealth Pool this weekend, and she is also training for the crucial British Championship trials in London, which follow next month.
Britain’s swimmers with ambitions of competing at next year’s World Championships will see their fate decided at the London Aquatics Centre.
The event will also double as British selection trials for the European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan, and European Youth Olympic Festival in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Swimmers will compete over five days for the chance to represent their country from Tuesday, April 14, to Saturday, April 18.
Fullalove, a three-time 2014 Youth Olympics silver-medalist, continues to be tipped as a swimmer to watch on the backstroke distances.
Proud dad Rod said: “Jess is currently feeling the fittest she has ever felt.
“Her training has been more specific to her own requirements and is now starting to show up in her results. She is more confident with her performances.
“Jess is feeling really optimistic about the challenges that lie ahead and is very focused.”
WORLD CLASS: Jess Fullalove.
