Alicia Wilson looking to make parents proud at ‘dream event’ in Commonwealths

Alicia Wilson wants to make her ‘parents and everyone’ proud when she pulls on the Team England kit at one of her ‘dream events’ this summer.

After now being based in America for a number of years, the 21-year-old admits that every time she is able to compete ‘back home’ is ‘special’ to her.

Looking ahead to the Commonwealth Games, Wilson explains that she is looking forward to competing at home this summer more so than ever before.

She said: “I’m really looking forward to it. To be able to compete at one of my dream events and do that at home, especially after a pandemic when the doors have been shut and you’ve been competing behind closed doors.

“That is more special than I could ever describe.”

Speaking of home Games’, Wilson competed at her first ever national championships at the age of 12, around a similar time to the London 2012 Olympics.

In a previous interview with Swim England, she revealed that it was one of her fondest memories as a junior swimmer.

As many younger swimmers gear up to compete at the national championships this year, the Olympian had a message to share with them.

“I think enjoy it as much as you can. Just soak up the experience and ride those emotions,” Wilson said.

“I look back and honestly, that 2012 year was the most fun I think I’ve had in my swimming career and as much as I can, I try to bottle that in now and ride on that happiness and that sense of fulfilment.

Just have fun

“We all get into the water because we enjoy it and we have so much fun there and that’s what I felt in 2012.

“Now being 21, I sometimes don’t encapsulate that happiness and energy or I put too much pressure on myself.

“I think if I could give that piece of advice, just to have fun as cliché as it sounds, I would give that because I’m way closer to the end of my career than the start now and I want to look back and have those memories of a good time.”

Wilson made her Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 and is set to make her Commonwealth debut just 12 months on from that.

After reaching an Olympic final in the Women’s 200m Individual Medley, the young athlete provided some insight into what her next few months looks like as she builds towards Birmingham.

Make my parents proud

She said: “My head is very much down, practicing as hard as I can.

“Obviously I’m in America right now completing the collegiate season which gives me a lot of good racing experience with a different audience.

“Then, once that wraps up, we have British trials in April which dictates the next few months and what I qualify.

“Then it’s time to really focus on the Commonwealth Games and hopefully making my parents and everyone proud there.”