Agency :
Alice Dearing has her sights set on a top-10 finish at the Tokyo Games as she prepares to become Britain’s first Black female Olympic swimmer.
Dearing will travel to Japan next week after securing her berth in the open-water event at the Games with a fourth-place finish in a 10km marathon race in Setubal last month.
It has been a journey of highs and lows for Dearing, who almost walked away from the sport, just a year after becoming world junior 10km open-water champion.
“It’s all about taking your low moments and learning from them. I mean, I’ve definitely had my fair share,” she tells Sky Sports News.
“Honestly, towards the start of 2017-18 season. I was looking to quit swimming. I wasn’t enjoying it, I wasn’t having a good time at all. And honestly, I don’t know why I kept going.
“I just got back into training, started training well [I suppose] and was really enjoying like the new squad that I moved into. So just under four years later, to be in this position where I really didn’t think it was possible or attainable [is amazing].
“I’m happy to prove myself wrong. This has been kind of 16 years of my whole swimming career. So to have received this reward, I guess, for that hard work is amazing. I just can’t wait for my opportunity to go and race.”
Team GB’s last women’s 10km open-water medal success was in 2008 when Kerri-Anne Payne won silver and Cassandra Patten claimed bronze at the Beijing Olympics.
Dearing says the competition in Tokyo is up for grabs and is desperate to prove she can compete and the highest level.
“I think the minimum I expect from myself is a top-10 finish, like the absolute minimum. I’d be quite disappointed with anything less,” she says.
“But honestly, open water is so competitive. It’s so unpredictable as well, that is the one thing about it. There are so many great swimmers going in, but the way the conditions work, especially with the heat that we have to deal with, I just think it’s quite unpredictable.
“It’s quite an open field and it’s kind of anyone’s game. So, I’m just looking to get in there and mix it with those other women and prove that I’m one of the best in the world.”
