GRACE Davison has been to the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics, won multiple medals and is still only 18 years-old.
The Ards Club swimmer is in training for her second shot at the Commonwealth Games and will compete for Team NI in the 100/200m Freestyle, 100/200m Backstroke and form part of the relay team in Glasgow (july 23-August 2).
In the four years since she made her debut in the pool at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, Davison has won a gold and silver medal at the Youth Commonwealth Games, been to the Paris Olympics and won medals on the European stage.
“I’ve done so much since then that it’s kind of a whirlwind of experiences. I’ve loved every second of it and I’ve kind of built on that every single year,” enthused Grace.
“Fourteen-year-old me had a lot less experience, was very shy, couldn’t have done any of this sort of thing (media interviews) so I’ve definitely learnt a lot from then and grown as a swimmer as well, and grown about two feet in height.
“There were a few young ones in Birmingham and I don’t think I’m the youngest on the team this time, I think there’s a girl younger which is exciting because I’m usually always the youngest on the senior teams.”
Team NI won their first ever medals at the Commonwealth Games in the pool in Birmingham and Davison’s training partner, Bethany Firth, claimed the first gold.
“That’s really special, me and Bethany train together every single day and we have such a good friendship, we’re great team mates, we push each other on and to see someone like her achieve her goals and achieve what she really wanted to do is really special,” Grace relates.
“I know that was an incredible moment for her and I’m sure she’ll be doing that again this time around, that’s what we’re both working towards and as much as she’s on the Paralympic side and I’m not, we still work together and we’re still getting advice off each other all the time.”
Davison struck gold in Trinadad and Tobago at the Youth Commonwealth Games a year after Birmingham.
“I know that was really exciting, I think usually people do it the other way around, the Commonwealth Youth Games were incredible,” Grace adds.
“It was an incredible experience in Trinidad and Tobago somewhere I’ve never been and probably won’t be again but it was really cool.”
Ellie McCartney won two golds at those youth games.
“The swim team brought back, I think it was like six medals and we had quite a few gold medals which is really exciting,” Grace continued.
“I think from such a small country to go over there and deliver such a performance is really cool and I think that kind of foreshadows this summer as well because we have such a big team going from Northern Ireland and I think such true potential is going as well that have big medal chances so it’s really exciting to be part of that team and just building on towards the summer..”
Davison has fond memories of the Paris Olympics, insisting: “That’s a big highlight and I think something I’ll always remember. I think being a part of a team that brought back three medals. You know three medals for Ireland in swimming is insane, so we came back with the most medals which is crazy and I think that’s something we’re really proud of and I think it’s opened up so many opportunities for swimming.
“I think we’re just building and building on the international stage. You know now we’re consistently on the medal table where before we weren’t and that’s the truth of it, you know we weren’t but we’re building and I think that’s showing and we have such true potential coming through, young and some seniors as well.”
Davison booked her spot on the boat to Glasgow on the first day of the Irish National championships.
“Looking at the Commonwealth Games times this year I knew they’d be hard and I thought I could do the 100 but to come away with the Commonwealth Games time in every event was pretty special and yeah to do that on the first day,” Grace admits.
“I felt so sick the morning of because I think sometimes when you’re in the place where everyone knows you should get the time but you haven’t. It is scary and I think there’s pressure on that so yeah I was very nervous the first day so to get that done was really, really nice.”
Before Glasgow, Davison must deal with her exams, concluding: “I think my goal is to go over there, have fun and try my hardest. I think I have put in a really good block of training at the minute, I have my A-levels coming up so that is the focus right now then swimming this summer, it’s going to be a big summer for me.
“I’ve got the Commonwealth Games than Europeans and all eyes on making a final. That is the goal and once you’re in a final, I mean you never know what could happen.”
Grace winning a gold medal at the 2023 Youth Commonwealth Games in Trinadad and Tobago
