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July 2010
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Poll Results...

► Phillippa Davies

Name: Philippa Davies

Age: 21

Subject: International Relations

Year of study: 1st

Sport: Swimming 800m and 1500m

School: Essex Brentwood (GCSE’s), Hereford (A-Levels)

How long have you been participating in your sport?

I have been swimming for about 12 years, I started when I was about nine years old. My mum took me to swimming lessons and I liked to compete with the other boys and girls who were learning. When the lessons finished, I wanted to carry on and so joined the local swimming club where I started swimming competitively.

What is your average training schedule?

My training schedule involves 20 hrs a week in the pool; I average around 50,000 metres a week including five hard sessions to build up my stamina and heart rate plus two hours of land work in the gym.

What facilities/kit do you use, how does your scholarship help with the cost of these?

I use the Wales National Pool Swansea and the Unigym for training, which I don’t have to pay for as a Sporting Scholar and the scholarship helped to pay for my fast skin suit which costs around £100.

What is your highest achievement in sport?

Welsh selections representing Wales in 1999 in America (3rd biggest swimming competition in the world), Cyprus and Geneva. I have been the Welsh National Champion since 1996 and I hold the record for 1500m for Wales.

Do you have a funding or scholarships for playing your sport?

I moved out of home when I was 16 and was training full time but the funding was not enough to cover the coat of studying so for 2 years I worked and saved in order to afford it. I think it is really important to have a degree behind me so that I can pursue a career when I can no longer compete but right now my primary focus is on training. The Sporting Scholarship is the only funding I have at the moment and things would be very difficult without it.

Why did you choose to come to Swansea?

I chose to come to Swansea because the Welsh National Squad is based here. I had been training with them for 2 years before I decided to study, so Swansea was the natural choice. The facilities were also a major draw; the Pool is regarded as one of the top 3 in Great Britain and is respected by professional swimmers.

What advice would you give to students who are thinking of studying here?

I have lived all over the country and Swansea is the best so far. Its cheap to live here, the nightlife and social scene is good, there are beautiful beaches and amazing sorts facilities such as the new indoor track and Liberty stadium, Sport-wise, it doesn’t get much better than Swansea!

What is your ambition for the future?

Commonwealth Games are in 24 weeks, which are being held in Melbourne Australia. The trials start in 5 weeks in Swansea. I know my parents would like to come and watch but I prefer not to have people watching me, it just adds to the pressure!

Welsh Amateur Swimming Association (the governing body of welsh swimming) and Welsh Commonwealth Games Committee (Governing body of all welsh sports, Team Wales-decides who goes to the Commonwealths)

Do you think you can achieve your sporting aspirations by studying in Swansea?

Training in Swansea has a real buzz about it. There are lots of different sportsmen and women here, the UK Disabled Swimming Team, the British Sprint Team and the British Triathlon team are all based here. We mix together and support each other and its great to have an insight into other sports.

I think this sort of environment can only help us all improve as standard are so high, it produces the best out of everyone.

Does Swansea University stand out for the importance it attaches to sport?

It’s definitely becoming known for its facilities. In Wales it is undoubtedly the best University for people who want to combine their sporting ambitions with studying and its reputation is growing in England too. People are slowly catching on about what Swansea has to offer, but it’s still underrated as far as I’m concerned.