Faulconbridge swimmer Jenna Jones was on her way to Auburn University, in Alabama early this week, as she prepares to compete in the Paralympics in Rio.
The 15-year-old will have a week in Alabama to adjust to the time difference, before moving on to Rio de Janeiro to ready herself for her five events.
Jenna will compete in the 100m breaststroke, freestyle and backstroke, 200m medley and 50m freestyle, over the course of the Games which begin on September 7.
Jenna, who competes in the S13 category for vision-impaired swimmers, was so excited to be competing in the Paralympics.
“It’s just unbelievable. I have been thinking about this ever since primary school. In 2016, for this, my goal, to come true is unbelievable,” she said.
Speaking to the Gazette before leaving Australia, Jenna said she was nervous about the long flight, as the longest international flight she’d taken was to Vanuatu. But she was looking forward to meeting up with her Australian team-mates.
“It will be a good team environment. Everyone will be hyped up and ready to race. There will be so much banter,” she said.
Jenna’s swimming coach Nick Robinson said training had been focused on the 50m freestyle event over the past eight weeks.
“She’s been doing extensive high-performance and high-speed training every session,” he said.
Jenna’s parents Bradley and Therese Jones will fly to Rio to watch her race, but won’t have any contact with Jenna due to Paralympic regulations.
“We wish her all the best,” Mrs Jones said. “We hope she does well.”
Mrs Jones said the support of Jenna’s school St Columba’s Catholic College, the swimming community and the general public, was appreciated.
Jenna is the first Paralympian to attend St Columba’s, and last Wednesday the school held a Green and Gold Mufti Day to send her on her way.
There were fun activities, and students were encouraged to dress in green and gold and make a gold coin donation to raise funds for the Paralympic movement. The day culminated in an assembly for the 15-year-old out the front of the school.
Principal Paul Ryan said the entire community was proud of Jenna.
“She’s such a gifted athlete and has a go at absolutely every sport here and never wants to give up,” he said.
“She has galvanised the school. There’s a Paralympian in the school and young people stop and go ‘if she can do it, I can do it … what’s stopping me.’”
He said the school would be playing footage from the Paralympics for students to view before and after school and at lunch.