Hi guys, Georgia here :)

This week I'm back with a brand new article series. I thought why not interview some of the very talented people we have here on virtual popstar and find out a bit more about their talents? That way we can all get to know something new about the people we see on virtual popstar.

I hope you enjoy this article and be sure to leave me suggestions for who you would like to see interviewed!

Hi, thank you for agreeing to take part in this interview. I'm just going to jump straight in with the questions :)

For how long have you been swimming?
Well, I was swimming since I was even born, in a way, my mum went swimming with me in her belly up until around 3 weeks before I was born. When I was around four, I took beginner classes and then a year later moved to a proper swimming club. But at the age of 7 I entered the realm of competitive swimming.

Wow, you've been swimming for a really long time then! What is it that you like about swimming that keeps you doing it again, and again and again?
I've always found swimming incredibly calming, and I always felt a sense of safety whenever I got into the pool. As I grew up I began to get addicted to focusing on self-improvement, and I found that it boosted my confidence. But what keeps me going most is definitely the passion and enjoyment I have for the sport. Although it sounds corny, swimming became my life and it became my escape from any stresses.

Have you swum in any competitions? What are your biggest achievements?
As I mentioned I've been competing since I was 7 years old. I've competed in over a hundred competitions and for a period of four years I was competing almost every weekend. I would say I have four biggest achievements. The first, and possibly most exciting, was when I was selected to compete for Scotland at the UK School Games in 2012. The competition was held in London at the Olympic pool. That competition was, in fact, the opening one for the pool and it was an honour to be a part of that. I've also achieved several medal placings at Scottish level competitions which gave me times that allowed me to then competition at British National Level. A more personal achievement that I pride myself on is time based. When I was 13 years old I swam 100m freestyle in 59 seconds. Something many people could only ever dream of.

That is incredibly fast! You must be very proud because you have had many great achievements. Because of this, do you want to have a career in this area?
An obvious dream of mine is to one day be able to compete for Great Britain at the Olympics. Although the older I get the further this dream gets. But I am determined to obtain qualification times for the Olympic trials in four years time and possibly Commonwealth trial times. I would also like to start taking courses in coaching so I can give back everything I have learned over the years.

It's lovely that you want to train so you can be a coach and give back. I think that's a very admirable thing to do. Good luck with whatever comes your way in the future and I hope you achieve your goals!

What tips would you give to anyone who is just starting out?
When you are first learning to swim don't be afraid to put your head under the water, I know it might seem scary at first but the sooner that fear is overcome the quicker you start to enjoy being in the water.  If, and when, you ever start competing, only focus on what you are doing. Don't get caught up in anyone else's times. Swimming is a personal thing, you don't need to compare yourself to anyone.

Is there a certain age that's best to start learning to swim?
No! You can never be too old to learn. Since I moved clubs my coach introduced me to Masters competitions. These are open to anyone aged from 18 to 100+ years old. The atmosphere at these competitions is so inspiring. Parents will bring their children along to cheer them on as they compete in set age groups. They also have separate European and World records to those that can be set by people competing at the Olympics.

If you could change your talent for a different one, would you? And if so, what would it be?
I wouldn't want to change my talent at all, I'm incredibly proud of what I can accomplish in the water. If anything, I just wish it was an easier talent to show to people! Unfortunately to be able to showcase it I need to drag people to the pool :3

Thank you for taking the time to do this interview, would you like to add anything else?
It was my pleasure! If you haven't been swimming for a while, or ever, give it a go! It's a good way to stay healthy and have fun!

I definitely need to get back in the pool, I haven't been swimming in a long time!

Again, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me and do this interview. I wish you luck with the future and I hope to hear more about your achievements.









I hope you have all enjoyed this article and please look forward to next weeks interview where I will be chatting with vp's very own actress, Homoerectus!