My three pieces of advice: Tom Hamer
Tom Hamer made history as the first S14 swimmer to represent Team England at the Commonwealth Games - aged just 15 - and he topped it off with a silver medal. The freestyler was making his international para-swimming debut at those same Games in Glasgow back in 2014 and he went one step further four years later - winning the S14 200m Freestyle on the Gold Coast in a world-record time.
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Double Paralympic silver medallist Tom, now 25, has enjoyed many successes on the global stage having also achieved multiple podium finishes at the World and European Championships over the last eight years. Heading into his third Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this summer, Tom has shared three invaluable pieces of advice to help ambitious young SportsAid athletes aiming follow in his footsteps.
Appreciate the unique experience
"Enjoy the experience. It's a different experience to the Olympics or Paralympics because it's the first time out of all sports, Europeans, Worlds, Paralympics, Olympics, that we all come together.
"It's para and able-bodied sports all in one room together and compete under the same bracket.
"So enjoy that and learn from it. I learn from the able-bodied side, and they learn from us.
"The Commonwealth Games are such a big event anyway and it's a really good stepping stone if you've never been to a major Championships before.
"So just enjoy it and appreciate every moment once you're in that Village, because once you've had that Village bubble, it's one of the best feelings ever.
"I would live in it all my life if I could! It's a massive community and a happy swimmer is a fast swimmer."
Don't get overwhelmed – stick to your routine
"There's one thing that's really overwhelming, which is the food hall.
"Try not to get carried away because there's a lot of good choices and a lot of bad choices, and in the couple of days in the lead up to your race, it can be won or lost with what you eat and what you decide to do.
"There's a lot of distractions and it's almost like it's a maze a little bit in the Commonwealth Village.
"They try to provide for everyone so keep to your normal routine in food and outside. Just be selfish for that time that you race and as soon as you've finished racing just enjoy every single minute.”
Make the most of family and friends
"If your family and friends are coming, make the most of them watching you. Try and get as much support as possible because it's not everyday that you get a Games just down the road.
"So get as many family and friends down there and get that extra support for Team England.
"We want to beat Australia on the medals table - we can't let them come over here and beat us!"
Commonwealth Games England has appointed SportsAid to lead on the development, management and operational delivery of Team England Futures at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. The programme, supported by Sport England, will reinforce the importance of the Commonwealth Games, particularly one hosted on home soil, as a developmental opportunity within the talent and performance pathway!
