Jenny McGeever is determined to prove she’s worthy of her place on the plane.
By Andrew Magee, Sportsbeat, 0870 445 0156
TEDDINGTON fencer Jenny McGeever is about to embark on her first ever World Championships campaign in Catania, Italy later this month – and she’s determined to prove to her team-mates she’s worthy of her place on the plane.
The 19-year-old epee specialist has been selected for the individual competition in Sicily and will also take part in the team competition in her first taste of major senior international action.
As a result, she’s the first to admit that when it comes to the individual competition, the pressure is very much off but having got the nod for the team competition as well, she must justify her selection for the last major tournament before London 2012.
“It’s my first major championships but I’m looking forward to it and I’m confident as well. I think it’s all about the experience and finding out what it’s all about,” said the former St Mary’s University student.
“I don’t think I’ll be nervous for the ‘individuals’ but for the team game I am one of the youngest so I think there has been a bit of friction about who has been put in the team so in that respect I think I will feel more pressure.
“I want to go out there and prove myself.
“I‘ll just have to keep training and learning as much as possible and see what happens.”
The World Championships will serve as the final pre-cursor to the London 2012 Olympics but while her rivals will be fretting about qualification, as part of the home nation squad, McGeever will not have those concerns.
She does however admit that London 2012 is always at the forefront of her mind.
“It’s been great having our training camp in London, I did a training camp in Barcelona in the summer and that really got the confidence up as well,” she added.
“London 2012 should be good and a real eye opener for the sport and hopefully a lot of the girls will keep fencing after 2012 and keep a good team spirit going.”
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