Fullalove aims to make a mark

Jessica Fullalove is hoping to lay down a marker when she achieves the great honour of pulling on a Team England swimming cap again.

The 21-year-old backstroke swimmer will be making her second appearance at a Commonwealth Games and she is hoping to use the experience of her debut in Glasgow four years ago to full effect on Australia’s Gold Coast.

Jessica Fullalove
  • DOB: 27/07/1996
  • Club: Bath University
  • Coaches: Dave McNulty / Jol Finck
  • CWG: Competed in the 50m, 100m and 200m Back on debut at Glasgow 2014

Fullalove, who won three silver medals at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, said: “I competed with Team England at Glasgow in 2014 but I was only young – I had my 18th birthday there and it was an amazing experience.

“I just tried to take it all in and loved it. Being in the Team England house was amazing but now I want to go there [Australia] and do some damage.

“I want to put my foot down and be like ‘I’m here, I have moved on from four years and I have changed’. I’m ready to really put my marker down.

Backstroke getting faster

“I’m looking forward to it. To put on that English hat is a great honour. To be the best at your sport is an amazing feeling so it would mean a lot to put that hat on one more time.”

Fullalove said she is determined to break 60 seconds for the 100m backstroke – as the competition is getting tougher.

“The 100m backstroke is getting faster,” she said. “The world record is 58 seconds now so I want to step up so I don’t get left behind.

“I’m working really hard at my consistency and trying to fine tune everything. Not just swimming speed but the start, turn, all the aspects that go into it. I’m feeling really good – I just need to push on now.”

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