Jade Retained in Paralympic Development Team

Jade Calverley prior to attending the AIS in September 2014

She was on the Road to Rio, and now Jade Cavlerley's sights are set on the Tokyo Paralympics in 2020. The local swimmer has been on the development squad for the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics for two years and was thrilled to find out recently she has been retained on the development squad all the way through to Tokyo in 2020.

Jade was originally targeted by the Australian Institute of Sport in 2012 as one of 10 improving multiclass athletes with the potential to represent Australia at the next Paralympics in 2016 in Rio. The aim of the development squad is to improve the athlete's skills and knowledge to help them transition smoothly to the elite level.

Jade has again been invited to an intensive training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra next week, where she will have a demanding schedule of two-hour training sessions twice a day, gym work and massage, and attend presentations on nutrition, recovery and psychology.

Jade will be the right age for the Rio Paralympics in 2016 but selection will depend on her times and she will be under the extra pressure of Year 12 that year. As her Paralympic dream comes closer to becoming a reality she knows her preparation will continue to step up.

"Lots of training and probably watching what I eat, physio work and competitions."

With five training sessions a week, some starting at 5am, Jade said that the feeling she got after every training was what kept her motivated and on track to her Olympic goal.

As published in the Port Lincoln Times - Journalist Billie Harrison (11th September 2014)

Article in the Port Lincoln Times