Hope dips her toe in at Stirling in pursuit of Paris perfection
Freestyler hopes huge decision to switch from Edinburgh will help take her up to the next level
FOR most athletes, the aftermath of the Olympic Games requires quite a bit of adjustment. Lucy Hope had more to adapt to than most in the months following her return from Tokyo, where she made her Olympic debut.
Having spent her entire adult life living and training in the capital at Edinburgh University, Scotland’s top freestyler came to the conclusion that a fresh start was required.
It was, she admits, a monumental decision, particularly as her development at Edinburgh had helped her collect four European gold medals this year. But the fact that only an hour along the motorway is one of the world’s best training groups made it easier.
Having spent a number of weeks on her return from Japan pondering her future, as well as fighting a touch of the “Olympic blues”, Hope joined the training group at Stirling University, led by Steven Tigg and which includes Olympic medallists Duncan Scott and Kathleen Dawson, as well as the likes of Ross Murdoch and Cassie Wild.
With the Paris Olympics now less than three years away, Hope is confident the change is exactly what she needs to move to the next level.
“I graduated from Edinburgh in the summer and I just thought it was time for a change,” said the 24-year-old, who is originally from the Borders. “I decided to go to Stirling and now I’m there, I’m certain I made the right choice.
“It’s been a pretty seamless transition. It helps a lot that in Scotland we’re a pretty close group and all know each other well. I’m really enjoying it and it’s been really good to learn from new people. And it’s such a highperformance group. So this will hopefully move things forward going towards Paris 2024.”
This week, Hope will get her first chance to test her form in the international arena as part of the 13-strong GB team which is in action at the World Short Course Championships in Abu Dhabi.
Also in the squad are Hope’s compatriots Scott and Katie Shanahan, as well as Olympic champions Tom Dean and Freya Anderson.
While Hope has already had a taste of competitive action since Tokyo as a member of the French team, Energy Standard, in the International Swimming League, as well as bagging the 100m freestyle title at last weekend’s Scottish Short Course Championships, she is keen for a new challenge this week.
“I’ve never been to an international short course meet other than ISL and I know it’s a lot more fast paced than some other events and so it’ll be a good experience,” she said.
“I’ll be happy if I can get
to the finals but really, I just want to learn as much as I can.
“I prefer long course to be honest but I know I need to get better at short course so this is a good chance. It’s a small GB team but that can be a really good thing because when it’s a small squad, I feel like you learn more from each other.”
On her return from Abu Dhabi, Hope will have a short break over Christmas before heading to Flagstaff for an altitude training camp.
“Next year is very busy,” she said. “I’m hoping to do well at trials and qualify for Worlds [in May] and all going well, I should be able to make the team for the Commies. The Commonwealth Games are always special because it’s home nations and all of the Scottish athletes are so close knit.
“The team this time will be completely different to the one in Gold Coast because so many people have retired so I’ll be one of the older ones.”
Hope’s standing as one of the more experienced members of the Scottish team is, at least in part, as a result of the recent retirement of Hannah Miley who, for more than a decade, was the stand-out Scottish female in the pool.
Hope is disappointed she will not be making any more appearances alongside Miley but she is in no doubt as to the legacy the 32-year-old has left.
“I know Hannah had a lot of trouble with injuries over the last couple of years but those injuries never dampened her spirit, she was always so positive,” Hope said.
“Hannah’s such a nice person and she always had so much time for the next generation. She’s a massive female role model and she will be for years to come.
“I am very sad that she won’t be in Birmingham next year but I’m sure she’ll be at home supporting us all.”