Great Britain's Rebecca Sherwin has admitted that she needs to learn how to cope with nerves ahead of major sporting events following her first European Games final this afternoon.
Sherwin was Team GB's sole representative in the women's 200m backstroke final, finishing in seventh place at the Baku Aquatics Centre with a time of 2:17.00.
The 14-year-old is now looking to build on that experience ahead of the 50m and 100m backstroke events later in the week, and she told Sports Mole that she is hopeful of ending her time in Azerbaijan with a medal.
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How would you assess your performance in that race?
"It wasn't what I was hoping, but it's always building on experience in these sort of events because I haven't done anything like this before. So hopefully as I do more races this week, they'll get better because I will be more prepared and less nervous, so it should be good."
What lessons will you take from that performance?
"I think when I get nervous at these sorts of things, I go out too fast and pay the price in the second half. But it's just gaining experience so you get less nervous and hopefully do better swims."
Is it important to get that first final out of the way then?
"Obviously, I was really pleased to make the final to start with, because I wasn't even in the top 10. Just to be able to swim in the final was a great experience and was very exciting."
What were your hopes for that race?
"Just to do a better performance. I wasn't really thinking I could have got a medal, even though that would have been great. But it was just getting a better performance out of it. I've got stuff to work on and take back to training."
Do you know what it is you need to work on?
"Working on my back end and nerves and stuff. I should just relax a bit more."
Your time in that final was a fraction worse than the heats, but were you happy with it?
"It wasn't the best but I guess it's all part of learning - I'll go back and keep working on those things and it should be good."
What does this do for your hopes in the 50m and 100m later this week?
"Yeah hopefully the 50m and 100m will be better and I've got the medley relay tomorrow as well. I think it's sort of easier to cope with the sprint races in this sort of situation because you can just go for it, you don't need to worry as much about tactics and stuff. But yeah, I'm looking forward to them."
Which of those is your preferred distance?
"Probably the 50m. I just find it the most fun and I get the most excited for that. But I like them all really!"
Do you think you have a chance of medalling in the 50m then?
"I would like to think so! But I haven't really looked at the heat sheets or anything yet, I've been concentrating on the 200m, but yeah, that would be great. I'd love a medal!"
Barney Corkhill
