Olivia was first selected for Great Britain in 2005 and was a member of the England synchronised swimming team at the Commonwealth Games, partnering Jenna Randall in the dual event, in which they came fourth. 

She hopes to capitalise on recent successes by winning an Olympic medal in either the 2008 or 2012 Games.


photo gallery

March 2008 blog

After I got back from Spain at the begging of March we had a week at home before flying to Holland for the European Championships.

We continued the physical training side but focused on bringing back our quality and technical corrections for the competition.

The pool in Eindhoven was really nice to swim in and we achieved some good results pulling up from 10th in prelims to 9th in finals. At Europeans in 2006 we came 13th so we are clearly showing improvement. My final swim was much better than prelims so I was very pleased.

During March the team as also got involved in Rushmoor Mallards which is a disability sports club for all ages. They are produced several Para Olympians.

During the year we will go and join in with the sports and games that they do. It was really good and I played wheel chair basketball which was fun.

When we got back we had long weekend off for Easter and then continued with our physical training phase.

The week was very tough doing sets of our routines with weights and minimum rest and we did a total of 23 whole swims in 4 days not including all the laps and bits we did as well.

We made changes to improve the routines for qualifiers in April. We have a camp in Macau before hand and then travel to Beijing for the competition. It’s very exciting as we will know if we get to go to Olympics 2008!

february 2008 blog

After the German open at the end of January we made changes to our routines from the feedback given by the judges.

On the 9th I did another triathlon which was very hard and I was sick at the end, which means I pushed myself to the max. On the 13th it was my 18th birthday!

On the 24th of February we flew to Barcelona to train with the Spanish coach and team.

Their centre is at a facility which is a school for athletes and fits education around their sporting careers. It was sunny but quite cold training in a 50m out door pool.

Our coach Biz Price was helping the Spanish make changes to their routine while their coach Anna Tarres coached us. It was very hard but defiantly worth it.

We did two pool sessions a day which were usually about 4hrs long thought you don’t know when your going to finish until you finish!

A lot of it was physical training with weights (weight belts of 3kg with ankle and wrists weights too).

One day we did it with clothes on. The Spanish are amazing and we are only just started to get the right feeling of intensity that Anna wanted.

We made a lot of changes to our technical routine and so in the next week before we go to senior Europeans will continue to train it physically but also focus on the quality and technical aspects. I’m looking forward to competing and seeing if we can improve on our swims.

january 2008 blog

I came back to training on the 3rd I now train for 5-hours every morning in the pool. Then 3x2hr sessions and 2x weight and cardio sessions a week in the afternoon. Then 4hrs in the gym on Saturday, and Sunday off!

We’ve now completed both routines and are training hard. On the 23rd I flew to Germany to compete in the German Open in Bonn.
It’s the first competition of the year, and our first international of the year so we wanted to make a really good impression with our new routines.

We came 5th in all duet events and in the tech got three 9.0s and were only 0.333 behind France. We also beat Mexico and Belarus who we didn’t at Worlds. Judges and coaches were impressed with our improvement and have us some good feedback and advice on how we can improve further.

december 2007 blog

At the beginning of December we had our British Championships. I had some really good swims, coming first in both duets and winning the Spencer trophy.

I came second in my solo and got the junior soloist trophy. Me and my duet partner both got the swimmer of the year award so it was a very successful competition.

The Spanish duet was invited to come over and swim in the open part of the competition. Israel also came and competed. It’s the first time British Championships has had international competitors which is great. The Spanish duet are currently ranked second in the world and are absolutely amazing.

I’ve stopped going to college now as it has been too hard to balance with training. After Christmas I will be doing afternoon pool sessions so there will be no time for school. It is quite a relief as now I can just focus on swimming and competing in 2008.

On the 21 December I did my second VO2 max since September and improved it which I’m pleased with.

I had a Christmas break from the 23rd to the 3rd, and so went back home to St.Albans. I still had to continue and maintain training doing strength and cardio sessions including speed swimming but no synchro.

I even trained and went for a run on Christmas day with my Dad which was cool. I’m really looking forward to getting back to training and pushing and improving every session because it’s 2008 Olympic year!

november 2007 blog

In November we continued preparing for British Championships. On the 7th I went to Bisham Abbey for an Olympic Conference, where they told us all about Beijing 2008.

It was really good as we were able to see what the athlete’s village and facilities will look like. On the 17th we did our 2nd triathlon which comprises of 10mins on the rowing machine going as far as we can, then 20mins on the cross trainer, seeing how far we can go and then a timed 4-mile run. It’s tough as you don’t get any breaks and you just have to sprint the whole way. And then we have to have an ice bath after!

For Nationals we have decided to compete with our new technical routine but old free routine as our new one hasn’t been completed.

We are feeling positive about the competition and if we come first it means we are definitely the duet that will represent GB for the Olympic trials. I am also doing a solo for British Champs to an Italian tarantella called ‘Bella Ciao’.

I haven’t done solo for a couple of years but the music is really fun and everyone always has it stuck in there heads after training.

october 2007 blog

During October we have been choreographing our new Olympic routines which will be swum for the first time at the British Championships in December.

We’ve finished our technical programme and are starting to do aerobic work on it-doing 4-6 whole swims in a row. The music is really cool so even though it’s a much more difficult routine and has taken a step up from our old one it’s very enjoyable to swim.

On the 16 October we had our official launch for the high performance centre of synchronised swimming. Lots of important people came, involved with British Swimming and the BOA and we did a display of or new duet. We also had our lactates taken after our swim to see hard we pushed ourselves and how efficiently we recover.

I started college in September, doing maths and art and although it’s quite hard to fit in I’m enjoying doing education again.

september 2007 blog

On 3 September we officially started back training at our centre joined by all the swimmers who qualified in the team selection. We had a big team meeting where we met all the staff working behind the scenes and the support staff supplied by the EIS Centre at Bisham Abbey such as nutritionists, physio and lifestyle advisers. It's amazing to know that all these people are working towards making us better athletes and helping us achieve our goals at Olympics.

I had to do my VO2 max in September which is where you run for as long as possible (until you pretty much fall off the treadmill) while the speed and incline is gradually increased and you have a mask on your face so they can measure how efficiently you use the oxygen you breath in. It was horrible and very, very hard! But is a crucial way to find out how I can improve physically.

At the moment I train 5 days a week in the pool for 5hours and one day a week at Bisham Abbey for 4hours as well as extra cardio sessions and strength sessions during the week.

On the 22 September I took part in the Big Synch which was a world record attempt to synchronise the most people in a pool at once, and was the finale of the summer of sport campaign. We were successful and also did a swim of our old duet at the event.

august 2007 blog

During August I've been making up our new duet routines for Olympics. We've got some really good original ideas for the routines and have found some really good music as well.

I've been training 3 days a week for 4 hours at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre with our new physio and land coach Andrew and Lisa doing cardio and basic strength and conditioning circuits. I have also been doing two 5-hour sessions in the pool a week doing choreography for the duets.

I've also been making up my technical solo routine for the ASA National Age Group Championships which has been interesting as I haven't done a solo in a couple of years so I've been able to experiment, moving in the water on my own and trying to find choreography which shows my strengths in the pool.

In the last two weeks of August I had a two week break from GB training, but continued basic training 5 times a week. I've been really busy in my break organising my new flat in Aldershot, which I'll share with one of the team swimmers Beth Smith from Birmingham who is centralising in September. I also passed my driving test first time! So I can now drive!

I'm really looking forward to starting back training in September with all the team, having my own home, being independent and finishing off the new routines. I'm also starting college in Farnborough so I'm going to be busy balancing training and school work.


july 2007 blog

The beginning of July was focused on getting ready for the Swiss Open. During this time I also took part in the Get Safe 4 Summer workshop which promotes to schools, safety around the water during the summer.

We did a display for the kids and then helped them learn how to skull and things. It was good fun and we got a day off training too!

On the 17th July I flew to Switzerland and had three days of training before the competition started and had some really good training sessions.

I also had massage everyday before the competition to help recover my muscles quicker. I felt really ready for the competition. On the 20th I swam the duet technical and made some big improvements from the Rome Open swim.

Then in the evening I swam the duet free and had an amazing swim which was really good finishing on a high and especially as it's probably going to be the last time we swim that duet, and came 7th overall. I came home early on the Saturday and have had a week off synchro training but continuing basic cardio and strength work.

For the next three weeks before my two week break I’ll be making up my two new duet routines which we will hopefully swim at Olympics next year so it’s all very exciting!

june 2007 blog

I got back from Rome on 4th June and had a week at home continuing basic strength and cardio training.

When we got back we had meetings about how we felt the build up training to Rome went when we had done a lot of anaerobic training- building lactate and tolerance to lactate - and aerobic training for recovery.

This was included in our speed swimming workouts, synchro and short max strength gain in the weight room. We also discussed how we felt our performances and competition plans could be improved. On the Tuesday the 12th me and my duet partner did a performance for the BBC as two of the presenters Sam and Mark had to learn how to do synchronized swimming in a week and do a competition which was cool although we had to get up really early and swim in a freezing outdoor pool!

In training we've made more changes to improve the routines further and at the moment we are in an aerobic phase of training. This is to build up our aerobic capacity to enhance recovery, volume and intensity training. In synchro the focus is on increasing our core strength and stability in the water by doing lots of drills and also increasing sculling endurance with ankle weights. So a lot of hard work!

The junior team began their 5 week camp at the training centre on the 18th with an Italian and Canadian coach so the pool is packed now.

I've also had nutrition meetings so I know what I should be eating before during and after training and especially around competitions.

I've also started driving, and passed my theory test. I've just bought a Fiat Punto with some of my funding given by Kellogg's which will now make it easy to get to the training centre, as I live and 1.5hrs away. So it's all very exciting. I hope I don't fail my test!

may 2007 blog

During May we have continued to improve our routines, making them faster and harder. On the 12th of May we were able to show them to an audience at the junior and senior team trials at the training centre in Aldershot. We were given lots of posotive feedback from swimmers, parents coaches and judges who were all impressed at how much we are improving. Judges who had seen our performances at World Championships in Melbourne were pleased with the changes we've made to both programmes.

On the 19th of May I did a photo shoot for the love uk campaign at the Baths spas. We had picutres taken in the outdoor pool on the roof which was cool, and we were able to use the facilities afterwards as well. In the week before the Rome Open we did a few competition simulations and practices of our pre-competition warm-ups so we can be more efficient at the competition and be ready for anything!

On the 28th of May I flew to Italy for two days of training before the comeptition on the 31st at the Olympic pool next door to Stadio Olimpico. Before the competition started we got to visit the colluseum and the Fontana Di Trevi and more importantly get an icecream!

Our goal in this event was to final and again get some recognition for our improvements. We had a good swim in the free duet routine which is to music from Cirqu de Solei, which felt not didn't feel good for me in the technical routine swim as I made minor mistakes I've fixed in training, but managed to final and come 12th.

We were pleased with this as last year at European Championships we just missed out on the final, coming 13th and in Rome. Both China and the USA attended so more tough competition was added. Our swim in finals was really good as we pushed right to the last second and as our coach says had 'no fuel left in the tank!' My legs really killed afterwards and it was hard to climb out the pool which is usually a good sign that I've put everything I can into the performance.

Russia, as usual, came 1st in all the events they competed in but Spain is catching up and was very inspiring in the team event with the theme of 'Africa' showing some very difficult and original choreography. The Chinese duet was also really good and I liked Italy's team with the theme of man evolving. At this event we had a physio come out with us, which we have not previously had at competitions, to help with any aches or injuries.

april 2007 blog

I arrived back from Melbourne at the beginning of April and had two weeks at home, where I did basic training including cardio workouts on land and in the pool, strength and conditioning, and flexibility.

On the 10th I went back to Guilford, to live with my duet partner for full time training on that event. We reviewed our performances from World Championships and did some video analysis of both ourselves and other countries to see where we could improve both technically and artistically to move up the rankings for the Rome Cup at the end of May, which is actually the European qualifying competition for 2008 Beijing Olympics.

We've changed both the routines making them more difficult and faster. I've also been getting support from the EIS on nutrition and land training. They assessed our body mechanics to personalise our land training and foresee any potential injury or weaknesses.

At the moment I train seven hours a day which includes one hour of core and flexibility in the morning, five hours in the pool which includes swim workouts with a speed coach, drill and routine work.

In the afternoon I do either land cardio or strength and conditioning for an hour. On Saturdays I do 1.5 hour cardio and then some flexibility.

And a day off on Sunday!




march 2007 blog

I arrived in Melbourne on the 2nd March for a pre-competition camp in Glen Wavley at the Police Academy pool, which we shared with the Australian synchro team.

We trained for five hours in the pool a day while maintaining our land fitness in the gym. This time was used to acclimatise and perfect our routines, and with the purchase of a new DVD player we were able to film and analyse our routines so we know where we can improve.

We also carried out competition simulations where we were able to do our wamup and then perform to a crowd under similar circumstances to a competition so we would know exactly what to do and expect for the real thing.

On the 12th March we moved to the competition-training site at the Rod Laver Arena. We were given music time here and we able to get used to the water and surroundings. Sometimes it was quite crowded in the pool with around 38 competing countries. We used our headsets, which we bought in Canada that enables us to here our music via earphones in the water.

In the duet we performed our best swims and came 20th in both the free and technical programmes which we were really pleased about as our aim was to place in the top 22. We also received our first 9.0 score as a duet! Lots of positive feedback from other countries was given, who have noticed significant improvements and are impressed with our potential, especially being the second youngest duet at the event.

It was a really good competition to see where we are ranked in the world and to start making the necessary steps to improving our position for Olympic trials next year. It was also great to see the top competitors for real and compare programmes and see their new ideas and routines. Now I've finished competing I’ll continue dryland training out here until I go home on Sunday the 26th! 




february 2007 blog

I’ve just finished my month long training camp in Toronto, Canada and fly to Melbourne tomorrow for a pre-competition camp and travel onto the World Championships for the synchro events from 17th-23rd!

The training was really tough but we’ve made lots of improvements in all our programmes, both routines and dry land work.

I trained 4-5 hours in the water in the morning and then 2 hours of gym or another pool session in the afternoon and of course one day off a week and massage once a week. 

We did some competition simulations as well to help prepare us on our days off. We got to watch a Toronto Raptors basketball game and Toronto Marlies Ice Hockey which was really fun and very different to swimming!

There were loads of snowstorms as well and temperatures down to -16 so pretty cold! I had a really good time even when the training was hard and stayed with a really nice family. So just looking forward to getting to sunny Australia and competing!




january 2007 blog

At the beginning of January I went into full time training in the Guildford area, living with my duet partner and her family during the week. I'll hopefully be re-starting my A-levels next year in Farnborough.

At the moment I've been training 7 hours a day, including strength and conditioning, cardio workouts (in the water and out), flexibility work and routine training. At the beginning of February I'm going to Canada to train, and prepare for the World Championships, so very busy in the next few months!