2012 School Games
In May Rebecca Wilde and her team (Megan Bowen, Lucy Kirkham, Kristina Neves) went to compete in the School Games. Read on for Rebecca's short journal of her time at the games...
Sunday: Travelled up with the rest of the team, on the train to London. During this time we managed to get lost at least 3 times, a great start! Once at the hotel we are sorted into our rooms, given our England Kit and get on the bus to the Excel Centre.
This was where the event was based, with many of the sports being held there. However, tonight we were there for the Opening Ceremony. The Food Hall hosted the event and had been designed to look just like Hogwarts! The Ceremony started with a talk from Jonathan Edwards, followed by Tanni Grey-Thompson and then Lord Seb Coe. All of the talks were inspirational in their own way, covering many aspects of sport. The Games were finally declared open and we went off to bed with full stomachs, and buzzing for the next few days.
Monday: Even though we were away, we still had to get up for morning training. After a late night we trudged down to an English breakfast, and headed to the training pool in Essex, where we swam for two hours.
That night we got our first action of the Games. After spending time in the amazing make-shift Athletes’ Lounge, where all 1,600 athletes were welcome, we watched the Volleyball and Wheelchair Basketball, each equally exciting. After dinner we attended “An Evening with British Sporting Legends”. This featured live interviews from Athletes past and present, each giving motivational talks.
Tuesday: Today we again began with training, a slightly easier session today so we’re fresh and ready to race. We are told our events and go through tomorrow’s plan. After a shorter evening at the Excel Centre, watching Gymnastics this time, we go to bed, ready to race at The Olympic Pool.
Wednesday: Today’s the day we race. England South are up against 9 other teams from Wales, Ireland, Scotland, England North and Brazil. We arrive early, and I am amazed at how big the Aquatics Centre is. The area around the pool is massive. This event is the first time the spectating wings are open, with more than 10,000 spectators expected. After walking all 100 rows to the top, my legs are shaking. Not a good thing before racing. After warm up, we get our super-tight swim suits on, spray our hair pink (England South’s colour) and get into leg warmers, fairy wings and cowboy hats.
I race well in the morning in the 4x100 freestyle relay, getting a big P.B, and the team comes second. After lunch we have the 4x200 freestyle relay which also does well, I get another P.B, and we come third, Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice) presents our medals. I then have my individual race, in which I come fourth, slightly disappointing, but I do a P.B and after all, I am racing against girls older than me. Overall England South come second and definitely win the best cheerleading prize!
The Games finish with The Closing Ceremony. After some brief speeches, Cover Drive and Spellbound perform. Everyone joins in and we finish the Games on a real high!
