TRULL rower Becky Wilde is set to appear in her first Olympics with rowing partner Mathilda Hodgkins Byrne after they qualified for the games in May.
Wilde and Hodgkins Byrne are competing in the women’s double sculls tomorrow (Saturday, July 27) for Team GB, and they are in Heat One with some big nations including the Netherlands, New Zealand, Italy, and the United States.
The duo qualified after winning the ‘double scull’ space at the final Olympic Qualifying Regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland.
Originally, Wilde, 26, was a swimmer for over ten years when she first arrived at the University of Bath before switching to rowing at the end of her first year.
Becky Wilde (left) and Mathilda Hodgkins Byrne hosing off after a double scull qualifier. (Image: PA)
Wilde, who at the time of the Switzerland race was in her first full season with the senior GB Rowing Team, and Mathilda needed a top-two slot in the final and achieved that by finishing runners-up to Czechia.
The soon-to-be Olympian’s parents are both PE teachers and played sports internationally, as have her brother and sister.
Coming from a very sporty family, it seems that Wilde was destined to represent Team GB.
Since she was six, being an Olympian was her biggest dream and now she has the chance to win gold in Paris.
On her Instagram, Wilde said: "It's been a hell of a journey so far and I am beyond thankful to everyone who has helped along the way. (I'm) honoured to be alongside @mathildahodgkinsbyrne and excited to see what we can do."
"I've dreamed of going to the Olympics since I was six years old.... Two decades later I get to live that dream."
Scheduled for 11am tomorrow, you can watch Wilde and other GB Olympians compete from 8am on BBC One.
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