Swim star Abbie set to take world stage

Abbie, 17, will compete in the 400m individual medley and the 400m freestyle events.

This is Abbie’s second senior selection for Great Britain, following her inclusion in the GB team for the European Championships in London in May and she said: “This will be a great experience.

“I have just finished my junior years in swimming so now I want to move in senior swimming smoothly.

“This is where some people struggle as it’s very different to junior swimming.

“This will be the biggest one I have ever done as I have only done European competitions before. This is my first world one.

“It is pretty exciting, and to get to go to Canada is quite nice.”

She added: “I am really grateful to get on the team really as there are only three younger girls on it with the rest being from the Olympic team, which is good for us.

“The competition will be good for me as it won’t be as fast with some Olympians not yet back in training.

“So it’s a great opportunity for me to get my name out there on the world and senior platform.

“My main goal is to get into the final of the 400, individual medley.

“I have looked at last year’s times and if I did a personal best by just a bit I should be able to qualify. Apart from that I just want to gain a little experience.”

Former Buxton Community School student Abbie, who is now based at the National Centre, Loughborough, has just returned from a training camp in Flagstaff, Arizona, as part of British Swimming’s use of altitude training leading up to the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020.

“That went really well,” she said. “I have just got my test results back and I gained a lot of fitness.

“It was a good block of training. But apart from the swimming we got to go and see the Grand Canyon too which was incredible.”

Abbie has also been selected onto British Swimming’s World Class Programme for the 2016/17 season.

In April she won her first senior Bronze medal at the British Championships in the 400m individual medley .

Abbie was also selected for the European Championships at both Junior and Senior level and won a bronze medal at the European Junior Championships in Hungary.

In July she then won a gold, a silver and two bronze at the British Summer Championships.