Freya Anderson: ‘There might be some of the future Olympians watching the Games’

July 28, 2022

With a home Commonwealth Games just around the corner, we take a look at the athletes who will be competing for Team England this summer.

Olympic gold medallist and double Commonwealth Games bronze medal winner Freya Anderson says she ‘can’t wait’ to experience the atmosphere of a home Games.

The Bath National Centre swimmer took inspiration from Rebecca Adlington and her performances at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, describing her as ‘British Swimming’s golden girl’.

Anderson started her career at Hoylake Swimming Club and now hopes to inspire the Olympians of the future in front of a packed Sandwell Aquatics Centre.

She said: “I think when I was younger it was Becky Adlington, she was British Swimming’s golden girl, and to get two gold medals at 19 was obviously very inspiring.

“I think it’s really important [to inspire the next generation]. Just having the representation of swimming out there.

“I think there’s 5,000 people watching just in the stadium, so we should be really good and hopefully we can inspire people just to get into it.

“If they see it on the TV and they like it, it’s so easy just to give it a go and go to your local club, like I went to Hoylake.

“You never know, there might be some of the future Olympians watching the Games.”

Hopefully I can give them something to cheer for

Anderson claimed bronze as part of the 4x100m and 4x200m Freestyle Relay teams out in Australia four years ago and finished ninth in the individual 100m Freestyle.

This summer’s competition will see her compete in the Women’s 100m, 200m and 400m Freestyle events in Birmingham.

Heading into the Games, the 21-year-old says she wants to ‘bounce on’ from her recent World Championships campaign.

“If I can improve on my performances and just tweak certain things, then the results should hopefully come to me, which would be nice,” Anderson added.

On being selected to represent Team England again, she said: “I’m really pleased, especially for a home Games.

“Hopefully the crowd’s going to be cheering for Team England, so it’ll be amazing.

“I just can’t wait to experience the atmosphere and my family are here as well so I’m really looking forward to getting going and racing.

“I think I’ve got my mum and dad, and my brother maybe, and my uncles might be coming and my aunties. It’s a big family affair so hopefully I can just do them proud.

“It’s nice to know you have all that support and people wanting you to do well. So hopefully I can give them something to cheer for.”