British Paralympic swimming star Natalie Jones is preparing for her third Games after making her debut in Sydney in 2000 and winning two golds in Athens four years ago.

Over the coming months on 606, Natalie will be giving an insight into her preparations as her and partner Rik Waddon, a member of the cycling squad, get set for the Beijing Paralympics which take place from 6-17 September.


Hi everyone.

Training has been going really well for me over the past few weeks. I have been doing some great sets, and I’m pretty sure that my coach is pleased with me too. I feel really fit at the moment and I know I can do really well at the Paralympic trials which start at the end of the month in Sheffield.

The nerves and the stress are really starting to get to me. Although I have done this all before, it still doesn’t get any easier. In fact, it gets harder, especially as I have so much competition in the medley event and only three places available, it makes it all the more difficult.

I know that we have two sets of trials before the team for Beijing is selected but it puts all the pressure on because you have got to perform twice to make sure that you get in.

I’m really pleased with my preparation and think that I have got it right, but only time will tell.

The team will be announced after the second trials in April by which time we will find out who will be going to the German Open as well, which will be the nominated team that goes to Beijing.

We also have the Paralympic World Cup on the second weekend in May which I’m looking forward to. This will be the fourth year that Manchester has hosted it and this year I think the swimming is going to be a two-day event rather than just over one day which gives us a chance for more racing and also to show what we can do.

A typical day for me at the moment is getting up around 0545, in the pool for 0630, then two hours hard work. I’m in the gym at 0930 for an hour and then I come back home and have a sleep. It’s back in the pool again for 1430.

As you read in my previous blog, I am an avid Chelsea fan and went to the Carling Cup final at Wembley last month. I hadn’t been to the new Wembley since it reopened - my brother Nick and my dad went for the FA Cup final last year, but I couldn’t go as I was competing.

Unfortunately we didn’t get to walk down Wembley Way because we were sitting in the opposite end but it is still a fantastic stadium, I had been to the old one when they had the twin towers to watch Colchester United, but this day was to be a day of despair, as we lost to Tottenham 2-1 in extra time. It was a really rubbish match and Spurs were the better team.

Boy, was it a long drive home after the game! I don’t think I have ever been in the car where my brother and my dad were so quiet, thank goodness I had my MP3!!

My personal life is going great at the moment as well, Rik is training hard at a camp in Majorca but on 29 February before he left he took me to our favourite restaurant in Manchester and got down on one knee and proposed in front of everyone which was really romantic.

We had been together for three years on 28 February so this was a nice surprise and totally unexpected. We haven’t set a date yet, as we have more important things to worry about like qualifying for Beijing! Once that is over then we will start thinking about it.

But I’m really excited, my ring is gorgeous, he chose it himself and I am really impressed because not many men would be able to do that. Maybe that’s why I love him!

Until next time.