After smashing four personal best times in four events at a national competition in April, Barratt is now training to represent Australia in the World Uni Games, in which she hopes to shave more seconds off her times.
But it was her 25.37sec in the 50m freestyle event at the April competition ” half a second faster than her previous personal best ” that secured her a spot on the World Uni Games team.
The Swan Hills Swimming Club and state freestyle record holder will fly to Russia for the games at the end of June.
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READ NOWNot bad for someone who just last year returned to swimming after a four-year break.
‘This will be the first time in my swimming career that I represent my country, so it is very exciting,’ she said. ‘It will be a different competition for me because I am used to competing solo, but now I am part of a team, so I will have to tweak my training a little bit. It is a great opportunity to be part of the team, but I am aiming for another personal best time while I am there.’
Barratt said she knew her new teammates through past competitions, and looked forward to competing alongside them.
While her mind is on the game for the competition, Barratt said she looked forward to a two-week break once it was done.
‘I have been busy training and competing, so it will be nice to have a break,’ she said. ‘I won’t be doing any swimming at all; I won’t even get in the pool. ‘
Her long-term goal is to compete in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.