Say hello to Nikki McSweeney

Nikki at the Church Fete

Nikki at the Church Fete

Although Nikki McSweeney is by no means new to the village, I thought it would be good to introduce her here because of her success and future prospects in bobsleighing: she has recently been selected for the Great Britain Junior Ladies Bobsleigh team.

Nikki is 21, and is studying physiotherapy at Hertfordshire University in Hatfield. When not at University, she lives in North Marston with her family, and has done so since the family moved here in January 1997.

Nikki showed athletic promise from an early age, and throughout her school years at Waddesdon CofE Secondary she represented the school and Milton Keynes Athletics Club at national level, primarily in shot putt and heptathlon, in both of which she was ranked in the top ten of her age group over a number of years. She also played hockey for Bicester.

At a point when she could have been pushing on, a chronic back injury forced her to miss successive seasons and a lot of training. Loving sport so, this was very difficult for Nikki. Fortunately the back problem was finally diagnosed (sacroiliitis) and treated, and Nikki returned to full training earlier this year.

Nikki in action

Nikki in action

Working out at the athletics track in Hemel Hempstead, Nikki was spotted by a member of the Great Britain Mens Bobsleigh team and invited to a trial at Bath. The trial went well, and over successive weeks Nikki kept improving. She was invited out to Frankfurt for a selection week in September, and as a result she was selected for the GB Junior Ladies team.

Nikki has been named as a reserve for the senior squad, who will be going to the winter Olympics in Vancouver, and is working hard in case she is needed.