LAURA A LITTLE SLOWER DIVING INTO THE BOOKS
SHE is a champion in the pool but Gold Coaster Laura Taylor says academia doesn’t come quite so naturally to her.
The seemingly tireless 18year-old has ramped up her studying efforts following a hectic period of competition.
She clinched a 200m butterfly silver medal at the Commonwealth Games last month and backed that up with three surf lifesaving golds for Northcliffe at the Aussies in Western Australia and then another three swimming golds at the Australian age swimming championships in Sydney.
But now it’s book in hand as she chips away at her exercise and sports science degree at Bond University.
“I’d say I am a bit lazy – not as motivated to study as I am to swim,” Taylor said. “So that annoys Mum a bit but I’m not the studying type.”
Taylor actually had an assignment due during the Commonwealth Games – which she said was “a bit of a reality check” – and wants to progress to physiotherapy upon finishing her current degree. Into her second year, she expects that to happen around 2022.
“I’ve enjoyed uni and meeting new people,” she said. “The Bond sport program is pretty good with it all, like last semester I was only doing two subjects and then this semester I think I will defer because I won’t be here for six weeks of the semester, so it’s not ideal.
“I have got a training camp in Townsville and then I’ll be heading off to Japan for the Pan Pacs.”
Taylor conceded the intense recent run of competitions had drained her, leading to what she modestly described as a mediocre event in Sydney.
“I thought hopefully Australian Age would have gone a bit better but I was a bit mentally dead I guess and a bit tired from it all and wasn’t really wanting to be there,” she said.
“Overall it was all good experience so I took a lot away from all of it.”