My Phase One Olympic Trial #DiscoverYourGold

Happy Monday everyone, this post is definitely not one to miss as it’s on my Phase One Olympic Trial! If you follow me over on my Twitter you may have seen me tweet about what I got up to this weekend. Over the weekend I attended a ‘Phase One Olympic Trial’ with my sister. Crazy, right?

The response to those tweets was insane and I am so thankful to have such a supportive following. Afterwards you voted for this post and I can’t disappoint you so here it is, my experience from the initial application to the day itself.

Enjoy!

discover1

  • Information about the campaign:

First up, I can’t start talking about something when you’ve no idea what it actually is, can I?

#DiscoverYourGold is “The biggest multi-sport talent identification campaign in British history… It aims to identify talented young athletes who have the potential to become future champions.

Targeting 15-24-year-olds, #DiscoverYourGold is a partnership between UK Sport, the English Institute of Sport (EIS), and a range of National Governing Bodies and provides gifted youngsters the chance to be fast-tracked into the exciting world of high performance sport.” (Quote)

36441885_2157116831190067_2153619549948215296_n

  • The application process:

I first heard and saw about this campaign during the Winter Olympics, 2018. After Lizzie Yarnold and Laura Deas won Gold and Bronze in the Skeleton. They both participated in #DiscoverYourGold campaigns.

Me and my sister both applied and after filling out an application form detailing our previous sporting history, achievements and future goals, our applications were sent off.

We then had to wait till May to find out if we had been successful!

  • Acceptance!

Obviously, I wouldn’t be writing this post if I didn’t get accepted. I received my email at the beginning of May and it’s safe to say I was extremely excited – as was my sister!

Both of us confirmed almost instantaneously and all we had to do then was wait until our trial. As you can imagine thousands of people applied to be a part of this campaign. We were two out of 2000 who got accepted to the Phase 1 trial. We were so overwhelmed to even have been chosen in the first place!

 

  • The trial itself:

We knew after receiving our invitations what the trial would consist of. It was a variety of different tests to see if we would be suitable for the fast tracked program and the sports themselves. The campaign is looking for people who will progress to Olympic level for the 2022 / 24 and 26 games!

We were being tested to see if we would be suitable for Skeleton, Track Cycling, Rowing and Rugby Seven’s. We were originally told it would be for Speed Skating too but unfortunately they were looking for 15/16 year old athletes to join their junior academy.

The tests we completed were as follows:
  • Anthropometrics (Standing Height, Sitting Height, Body Mass and Arm Span).
  • Vertical Jump (best of 3 trials).
  • Standing Long Jump (best of 3 trials).
  • 30m Sprint (best of 3 trials).
  • 6 second repeated sprint test – Watt Bike, followed by one 10 second test without resistance (best of 3 trials).
  • Watt Bike Ramp Test (endurance test, similar to the bleep test where the required power output increases every minute by 20 watts).
  • We also had our photographs taken and a brief interview with questions about why we applied, our future goals and our proudest sporting achievement this month.
discover3
Trial welcome letter.

We went through each test with a group of 9 other girls all of similar ages, 21 – 23. That really helped to keep us motivated, especially in the bike tests! I’m not a very keen cyclist at the best of times so that was what I struggled with the most. Shout out to the amazing helper who granted did yell at me to keep going but helped at the same time!

Now, I knew going into this that it would be hard work and probably one of the most physically exhaustive tests that I have ever done. Even that didn’t prepare me. Let’s put it this way, it’s two days later, the DOMS are real and I can’t walk properly still!

  • The experience and what happens now:

Overall, the experience was invaluable and I am still immensely proud to say that I was invited to an Olympic Trial. Regardless of the phase and if I progress.

It is another waiting game now though. We find out by the 20th July whether I have been successful or not in passing to Phase 2 and regardless of the result I will let you all know. I tried my absolute hardest and at the end of the day that is what counts. No one can argue with me either considering how much my body aches! You’d think I was about eighty years old by the way I am walking!

Let’s face it, like my Mum said, not everyone can say that they have been invited to an Olympic Trial!

36393994_2157101614524922_3465844853307342848_n
I don’t want to offend anyone with what we looked like afterwards (a sweaty mess) so here is a photo from before the trial.

Thank you so much to everyone who wished us good luck on the day and it has been an exciting experience both participating and documenting it for all of you! If you have any questions at all, leave them below in the comments and I’ll be sure to answer them!

I still can’t believe that I was even selected in the first place!

Find out how I did here.

(All photographs featured in this blog post are my own).
Information gained from:Β English Institute of Sport website.

43 Comments

  1. What an achievement ! This is something when your dream comes true. Hardwork pays ! Congratulations to both of you!

    1. Thank you so much! I know, I still can’t believe I even got given this opportunity! x

  2. That’s so amazing! I’m a total klutz, so I’ve never been much into athletic competition. I have an amazing amount of admiration for those who are gifted athletes. You go, girl!!!

    1. Thank you so much, that means a lot! I’ve loved sport all my life so was overwhelmed to have been given this opportunity! x

  3. Wow that’s great! Good luck for the results!

    1. Thank you so much! <3

  4. This is indeed extremely exciting!! I hope you guys get through the next trial!!

    1. Thank you so much! Fingers crossed! x

  5. Go you! Can’t wait to hear if you get to the next stage – everything crossed! xx

    1. Thank you so much! xx

  6. Thank you sharing this here! This is amazing and your Mom is right and you are both winners either way!

    1. Thank you so much, this is such a lovely comment x

  7. Congratulations, this was such an insightful read and I enjoyed a behind the scenes peek so to speak x

    1. Thank you lovely, glad you enjoyed! πŸ™‚ X

  8. theartsyreader says:

    Omg, how exciting is that?! Such an achievement! I wish you all the best of luck for July 20th, but as you and your Mum said, having been invited in the first place is already incredible! Congrats!!!!

    1. Thank you so much, I know, I can’t believe it! πŸ˜€ Thank you, will be a very nervy wait! xx

  9. mflick1942 says:

    Amazing!!! I can’t wait to hear if you reached phase two! What an incredible experience!

    1. Thank you so much! I’m so grateful to have experienced it.

  10. Looking at the time schedule it looks like you were there for a while – nearly 5 hours of full on sport – sounds so so fun!! I’ve heard a bit here and there about #DiscoverUourGold, but never had it full explained before.

    That’s amazing that you have something that targets 15-24 year olds and fast track you into Olympic training for sports – I remember getting an email from USATF for something similar but I didn’t apply as I didn’t feel I was at the fitness level I should be at.

    Lizzie Yarnold! I saw her in Skeleton, I was half rooting for her even though I probably should have only been rooting for USA – she’s really talented! The first ever British Olympic Athlete to defend her skeleton title!

    That’s amazing that you both got accepted!! I wish I had a sibling that was as into running/any sport as I am haha – it’d certainly make it more fun!

    I can’t wait to hear what happens on the 20th of July!

    Sahara
    http://saharas-dreams.blogspot.com/

    1. Yeah we were, we were there from 1pm to 5.30 / 6 so it was a very long and full on period of exercise! I hadn’t even heard of it before the Winter Olympics, I wish I knew about it sooner to be honest with you!

      Oh that’s amazing, that’s such a shame you didn’t pursue, if you get any more you definitely need to! Yeah she was insane wasn’t she? Couldn’t believe it, such a tense few races watching it haha!

      Thank you so much lovely, and thank you for your lovely comment once again! Me and my sister both started athletics at 9 and 10 so we have been together training and competing for ages now, it’s really nice! πŸ™‚ xx

  11. That’s great! Congrats and I wish you luck with your results!!

    1. Thank you so much x

  12. This is incredible. Congratulations on making it through the first phase, and good luck for the results. Will keep my fingers crossed for you! 😊

    1. Thank so much, will be a long wait! πŸ™‚

  13. Wow! Congratulations and the best of luck with getting into phase 2 x
    theordinaryblogger.com

    1. Thank you so much x

  14. Take Flight with Jen says:

    Amazing and congrats! Good luck.

    1. Thank you!

  15. JustaKidd says:

    WOW! Congratulations this is amazing! Best of luck with the results, but either way this is a huge achievement!

    Lon x

    http://www.just-a-kidd.blogspot.com

    1. Thank you so much, sorry I’ve only just seen your comment!! You’re so kind, thank you! <3 x

  16. Awesome ! Congrats to you girly . Such a great accomplishment

    1. Thank you so much lovely x

  17. Wow, that is amazing! I wish I was that sporty :O Your mother’s right, not everyone can say they were selected to take part in this! You can be really proud of yourself. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that you and your sister both pass to the next round πŸ™‚

    1. Thank you so much lovely, that’s so kind! X

  18. What an amazing accomplishment! Congratulations to you and your sister! Fingers crossed that you make it into Phase 2.

    1. Thank you so much! That’s so kind of you! x

  19. This is such an amazing thing to take part in! Good luck on making it to the next trail! Maybe someday all of us Twitter and blog fan will be watching you compete on tv!

    1. Thank you so much, it was very exciting but nerve wracking at the same time! That’s so kind of you! Oooh that would be pretty cool wouldn’t it? x

  20. Wow you should be so proud! Well done x

    1. Thank you so much! x

  21. Congratulations that’s incredible and definitely something you’ll remember forever!! I can’t wait to hear if you’ve made it to Phase 2! Fingers Crossed!

    1. Thank you so much lovely, won’t be long soon! X

  22. […] Finally, I want to say thank you to UK Sport for the opportunity and to each and every one of you who wished us both luck prior to the trial and afterwards. It means the world. If you want to read my original post then you can here. […]

Leave a Reply