💬 We sat down with for Team GB Olympic Swimmer, Molly Renshaw to learn about the trials and tribulations of making it to the big stage. Where did your love for swimming come from? My parents wanted me to learn how to swim as a child, just as a life skill so I would be safe on holidays – that kind of thing. I started off having private lessons, but when my instructor said I took to the water well, I was encouraged to join a local swimming club, Ripley Rascals. At age 10, I was scouted by a Derbyshire County Group called Derventio Excel, which is when I started swimming part-time. Competing in sport at a professional level comes with its fair share of challenges – what have been the toughest obstacles for you? Competing in the London 2012 Olympics was the absolute dream for me. I had a really good chance at making the team as I had made the qualifying times, I just had to perform on the day. Back then, we had trials in April and in June. In April, they would only take the top swimmer, and as I was second, I was put on hold until June. I missed the qualifying time by 0.1 second, so I missed the Olympics by a fingertip. It was a lot to take as a 15-year-old, looking back. It knocked my confidence for a few years, and I was mentally in a hole for two, maybe three years. I was still making teams, but I wasn’t thriving at the same level. I wouldn’t wish that upon any 15 year old, but it’s definitely made me tougher in the long run – I’ve now done three Olympic cycles and am looking forward to my fourth. #WomenInSports #WomenInSport #WomenEmpowerment #Olympics #TeamGB #Quote #Inspiration