Team England Futures gives Juliette Wise a glimpse of her Olympic future

England attacker Wise, 29, will be hoping to be on the plane as lacrosse makes its Games debut in less than two years, armed with the lessons she has learned in Glasgow.

Team England Futures, delivered by SportsAid in partnership with Commonwealth Games England and Sport England, gives an athlete insight into the demands and opportunities of competing at the highest level of sport.

Wise enjoyed talks from former SportsAid athletes who have competed at the Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games, received advice and guidance about how to take the next step in her career, had behind-the-scenes access to events, athletes, and training and even got to watch action in Glasgow firsthand from the stands.

“One big takeaway that I have learnt from being on this programme is that a multi-sport event is totally different to a World Championships, or a Euros in your own sport.

“Without this experience, I would not be able to prepare for the potential future journey to LA in the same way, for the amount of different things going on, the increased number of activities and media,” said Wise.

“There’s so many more things going on and now I know how busy it can be, I'm in a much better position to prepare mentally, psychologically, in a way I wouldn’t have been able to comprehend because I’ve been here and seen it firsthand.

“A highlight was the opening ceremony, they kept it a bit secret from us and we weren't really sure what our schedule was going to be and then we were told ‘we've secured tickets to the opening ceremony’ and we were like ‘my God!’

“When Team England walked in, it was such a special moment and I was thinking, ‘that could be me in two years’ time, and this is an event that I need to prepare for.'”

For many aspiring athletes, the environment of a major championship can be daunting, but Wise and her cohort were supported by coaches, teammates, the SportsAid team, and a wider group of experienced practitioners, mentors, and former athletes in Glasgow.

The programme provided an opportunity to learn and make the most of every multi-sport event, such as the Commonwealth Games, and understand an athlete’s ability to remain focused despite the noise, scale and pressure. 

“It's an important programme which has motivated me, and has educated us by bridging the gap for the athletes who could be at the next Commonwealth Games or Olympics,” she added. 

“It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to really experience what it's like at a multi-sport event without competing.

“I’m learning so much about how to perform under pressure by watching other athletes at their prime.”