At just 15 years old, Amelie Blocksidge is already considered one of the greatest prospects in world swimming. Although she narrowly missed a spot for the 2024 Paris Olympics, she is now looking ahead to Los Angeles in 2028, where she hopes to leave a lasting mark on the history of the sport.
Promising beginnings:
Amelie quickly made a name for herself at a very young age, breaking several British national records. At the European Junior Championships in Vilnius (summer 2024), she became the fastest British swimmer of all time in the under-16 age group for the 800-meter freestyle. With a time of 8:30.05, she erased age group records set by Holly Hibbott in 2015 and Keri-Anne Payne in 2004, both multiple European and World Championship medalists in long-distance events, a performance that demonstrates her exceptional talent.
Blocksidge didn’t stop there. In the same week, she smashed her own 1500-meter record, improving from 16:21.10 to an impressive 16:10.23, further consolidating her dominance in long-distance events. These performances earned her two gold medals at the championships and solidified her position as the best European long-distance swimmer in her age group.
National Championships insights:
At the 2024 British Championships, Amelie Blocksidge won the finals of the 800-meter and 1500-meter freestyle, confirming her status as a swimming prodigy. However, her winning performances fell short of the Olympic qualification times required, even though her 1500m time would have placed her 13th in the world after the Olympic Games. This apparent setback had a catalytic effect on the young Brit. “Missing out on Paris made me even hungrier for success,” she confides. For Amelie, this moment was a valuable lesson, strengthening her determination to improve and push her limits. It ignited a strong desire to shine in future major competitions, especially at the Los Angeles Olympics, where she is determined to showcase her full potential.
An inspiration and a role model:
Such performances at such a young age naturally lead to comparisons with the American legend Katie Ledecky, a 14-time Olympic medalist, including nine golds, most of them in long-distance events. Amelie doesn’t hide her admiration for the swimmer who made history with her first Olympic title at the age of 15. “My current best time is faster than Katie Ledecky’s when she was 15. That’s very motivating,” she says.
This comparison fuels her ambitions, with Amelie even dreaming of racing against her idol at the Los Angeles Games. “If I could race against her, it would be incredible. I always give my best in races, especially against the best.”
An upward trajectory:
Despite her young age, Amelie shows exemplary discipline. She trains eight times a week, with sessions starting at 5:15 AM, while balancing her studies. This dedication is already paying off: she is a multiple European Junior Champion and is preparing for her senior competition debut, having been recently selected for the British team for the World Short Course Championships (December 10-15 in Budapest).
Her coach, John Stout, from the Salford Swimming Club, firmly believes in her potential. “Those who win Olympic medals do extraordinary things in training, and Amelie is one of those. If everything goes well, I’m convinced she’ll be at the Olympic Games.”
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