Age: 19
Lives: Brisbane, QLD
Hobbies: Going to the beach, hanging with her friends and watching movies
Specialises in: Freestyle
Having already been to one Olympic Games and with her eyes set firmly on competing at Rio in 2016, Brittany Elmslie is well on her way to achieving her goal of going to three Olympic Games. Brit is certainly proving herself to be one to watch.
Having a career in sport was perhaps inevitable for Brit; growing up in Noosa, she had an extremely active childhood.
“My siblings and I always had to be practically dragged out of the backyard pool, we loved it so much!” says Brit. “Plus Mum was a swim teacher when I was younger, and so I would always be hanging out by the pool while she was working.”
When she started Nippers, a swim coach saw something in Brit and approached her to start proper training. Brit admits she was initially not that interested in pursuing competitive swimming.
“Once I started seeing the results of the training – and winning races – I was hooked,” she explains. “I really enjoy swimming now. I train every day of the week, whether that’s in the pool or just going for a run. But because I love it, it doesn’t feel like a chore.”
Having started swimming competitively at the age of 13, Brit has spent the majority of her time in training for quite some time now.
“I have been training in preparation for the Commonwealth Game trials since September last year,” she says. “Swimming is pretty much a full time job!”
Despite her love for swimming, Brit admits she does enjoy a bit of down time. In her spare time, she enjoys getting away from the stress that sometimes comes with training.
“I just go do normal things, like get coffee with my friends or laze around and watch movies,” says Brit. “When you are so active all the time, it’s nice to be less active for a while!”
In addition to her swimming, Brit is currently in the middle of a Business degree, majoring in Event and Sport Management at Griffith University. She also has a certificate in fitness, and she hopes to use these two qualifications to venture into PR or marketing in the future.
Although her recent performances indicate that she is likely to realise her dreams in the competitive swimming arena, Brit knows how unpredictable the future is, and is setting herself up to succeed in the corporate world with her study.
“With swimming you have to take things one year at a time because until you know how you went in the trials, you don’t know what other events you will be competing in that season,” she explains. “So you just focus on your stepping stones. If I get to Rio I hope to be competing in some individual swims; to do this I aim to be in the top two in Australia with my times.”
Training every day can be very draining, and motivation can sometimes lag. At times when Brit feels unenthusiastic about her swimming, she uses her memories of the London Games to keep herself going.
“London was amazing. It was even better than I imagined,” says Brit. “The village lifestyle especially is just incredible, and something that only Olympic athletes get to experience so it really feels like an achievement to be there. To be representing your country is also amazing; winning that medal at the London Games, and getting to stand on the podium singing the national anthem…that experience is what you work for every day.”
Other articles in this edition:
Pool Operation Explained... How Everything Works Together
AUS
NZ 
