Review of The Year: Illness puts paid to Avil's dream
It was a year to remember for Bugbrooke triathlete Hollie Avil – but ultimately for the wrong reasons.
The 18-year-old produced some stunning performances in the first six months of the year, and in doing so pushed herself into the frame for selection for the Beijing Olympics.
Avil then duly qualified for the Games, and despite her tender years and comparative lack of experience in senior events, was seen as a genuine medal prospect.
But that's when Avil's luck changed.
On the eve of the triathlon in China, she was struck down with food poisoning.
The teenager bravely decided to give the gruelling event a go anyway, but had to withdraw after being sick during the race!
Despite her Olympic experience going slightly sour, it is a still a year Avil can look back on with great pride, as she is now the British Champion, a title she can add to the World Junior Champion gong she won in 2007.
As far as the area's other Olympians are concerned, it was a case of slaps on the back for being selected in the first place, but there were no medals to bring back to the county.
Brixworth swimmer Caitlin McClatchey finished an excellent sixth place in the 200m freestyle final, and was expected to be in contention for a gong in the 4x200m relay.
The British quartet broke their own national record in their heat, but for the semis McClatchey and 400m freestyle gold medal winner Rebecca Adlington were rested – and the British team bombed as they failed to reach the final.
It was a damp squib of an end to the Olympics for McClatchey, who must now decide whether she is going to target a medal in London 2012.
Roade's Tim Stockdale was another county competitor who went to the Olympics hotly tipped to win a medal with the GB equestrian team, but they were never in the hunt.
Stockdale did make the individual final on Corlato, but had to settle for joint 16th place.
The Olympics ended up purely being a watching brief for our two other competitors.
Jaime Moore, who had finished 12th in the trampolining at the 2002 Games in Sydney, travelled as a reserve and wasn't required, while Rugby & Northampton 400m runner Vicky Barr wasn't utilised by the relay team.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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