Claudia Ashford '22 Recruiting Profile

Just like any other 5-year-old I attended a learn to swim program as my parents wanted me to safe in the water...

At the age of 7, my learn to swim coach advised my parents that I should look to take my swimming to the next level by attending a competitive local club in my area “Swim Bournemouth” which was where I fell for the sport and over the course of this foundation to competitive swimming, I accomplished many things I never thought I was capable of and learnt many life skills, such as determination, patience and practice will always prevail.

During this time, the club organised for Mark Foster an Olympic medallist to spend the day in 2012 where he ran our training session and then shared his story of swimming during a Q & A, hearing his achievements is when I realised that my aspirations were very much in line with Mark’s. This was when I first knew I wanted to take my swimming as far as I could.

At this time, I was only 18 months away from entering senior school in the UK (High School in the US) when I knew that I needed to look at entering a more elite swimming program. So, I applied for a scholarship with a renowned independent school - Bournemouth Collegiate School catering for pupils aged between 11-16 who in turn invited me to attend a swimming scholarship day and subsequently awarded me a full scholarship to attend the school when I was of age and allowed me to join their performance swimming squad a year early in 2013 to begin bonding with my new team.

Due to this scholarship and the work of my highly experienced coach Adam Parfitt I improved significantly and at my first big ASA competition the Dorset Counties in 2014 I broke the county record aged nine for the 200m SCM backstroke to date, subbing 3 minutes (2:57.70) which had not been achieved in my age category before in my county.

2015, I qualified for the Welsh LC Nationals in Swansea, UK, which resulted in a silver medal with a time of 2:36.28 for the 200 LCM Backstroke and making finals in various events.

2017, I was selected for the Dorset County Team where I represented my county who in turn retained our Division One ranking in the UK.

2017, placed fifth in the English Secondary Schools Team Championships representing Bournemouth Collegiate School at the London Aquatics Centre for the 4x50m medley relay (2:05.29).

2018, received most improved swimmer award Swim Bournemouth (2018-2019 Season).

2019, saw me qualify and compete in the English LC Nationals competition in Sheffield, UK.

Since March 2020 in the UK, all events have been suspended due to Covid-19, but I have not stopped training. I have increased my land training to include 5km daily runs, 5km daily walks and 1 hour CrossFit work out sessions to ensure my fitness is not reduced in any shape or form. In fact, I am using this time outside of the pool to increase my upper body strength and cardiovascular to ensure when pools are reopened in June 2021 (fingers crossed) I will be returning fitter and stronger than ever.

Currently, I am studying A Level Sports Science, A Level Media and A level Photography at Twynham Sixth form.

I am looking to study Sport Science in the USA in 2022 and can’t wait to join your team and give 110%, both in the pool and academically.