‘Nemo’ has medal goal

jessica lloyd: bronze chance.

SWIMMING:

JESSICA Lloyd may be known as ‘Nemo’ to her teammates in the London 2012 squad, but the swimming starlet is determined to make a big impact in the pool at her first Olympic Games.

The 17 year old, from Diggle, is one of the youngest members of the squad and won her place in the 4x100m relay squad by finishing fourth at the Olympic trials.

Selection is just reward for Lloyd’s doggedness after she battled to get into her local swimming club as a youngster.

And the Mark Rose-coached teenager believes bringing home a medal is more than a Disney-style fantasy.

Lloyd’s time of 54.95 seconds in the semi-final at the British Championships was the seventh-fastest 100m freestyle time by a British woman in history.

And Lloyd will be hoping for more of the same when she takes to the pool for the relay in London alongside the likes of Fran Halsall, Amy Smith, Rebecca Turner and Caitlin McClatchey.

“I would have loved to have done the individual events, but I really think that we have a chance of winning at least a bronze medal,” said Lloyd, who benefitted from being a member of the Lloyds TSB Local Heroes programme.

“I’m working on going out a bit faster in my race It’s incredible for a 100m swimmer, but if I can go out fast enough, then I can still bring it back in the same time. So hopefully I’ll get a personal best while I’m there.”











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