Chelsey continues to make waves
Teenage swimming sensation Chelsey Edwards is going places, and fast.
The Upper Hutt 15-year-old has some important swim meetings and individual goals ahead of her.
The New Zealand age-group champs in Wellington from March 21 are first and soon after she will be at the Australian equivalent with a 22-strong Kiwi team.
A freestyle specialist, Edwards is at the top of age-group [under18] swimming in New Zealand and on target for the Junior Commonwealth Games in the Bahamas in July.
And next year the Commonwealth Gameson the Gold Coast are a definite and realistic ambition.
Edwards has already achieved a Games’ qualifying time with her 26.06s in the 50-metre freestyle.
However with Swimming New Zealand’s reduced funding that does not bring automatic Games selection.
She will have to replicate or better that time to claim a place in an expected team of just 12 athletes.
‘‘It’s going to be so good, there’s a lot of things to look forward to,’’ the Chilton St James Year 11 student said of the months ahead.
Chelsey has a top work ethic and knows she has to continue putting in to achieve her goals.
With her Swimzone club coach Frank Tourelle she trains at either Naenae or Stokes Valley twice a day, four school days a week and also on Saturdays.
That leaves little time for any social time but living a life very different to her friends is something Chelsey accepts.
‘‘My routine is tiring and so my weekends are for sleeping really, sleeping and schoolwork. It’s hard to find the time for study but I get around it. I am always focussed when I’m at school.’’
After early swim achievements while at St Joseph’s primary, Chelsey was awarded a Chilton St James scholarship. That’s a big help as swimming is an expensive game.
Chelsey is grateful for the support she receives, especially from her mother Debbie who makes a huge sacrifice in time and money.
‘‘I try to work on a budget of $14,000 a year but really that is not enough.This Australian trip is $4000 alone and the Bahamas will be another $6000,’’ Debbie Edwards said.
The Upper Hutt community is also playing a part. ’’The Silverstream Lions Club and the Cossie Club have been very kind and this year we were lucky enough to receive $7500 from them.
‘‘To be honest we wouldn’t be been able to do what we are doing without their help,’’ she said.