Excited Boyle aims to go faster than before

Lauren Boyle is excited to be officially selected for their third Olympic Games – named last Friday in the eight-strong swim team for Rio by the New Zealand Olympic Committee.

Lauren, currently training with teammate Emma Robinson at Threadbo in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, said she was excited and grateful for the experiences she has gathered in the previous two Olympics.

She said the experience this time is vastly different that for London.

“Two years out from London my best time was 30 seconds off a medal – that’s an entire lap,” Lauren said.

“But I went fulltime into swimming after returning to New Zealand and was able to make huge improvements under my coach then, Mark Regan and that was the big turning point.

“It set me up for my performances in London and on for 2013 when I made my first international podium at the world championships.”

Lauren has been in the same training routine since and understands what is needed.

“I am excited at the opportunity and want to perform to my best in Rio.

“It is great to have a bigger team of eight which is a much different dynamic and enjoyable to have people to share training and experiences with.”

Lauren is not focussed on medals but rather on performance.

“Swimming is a very deep sport with more than 180 nations taking part and there are probably 10 women capable of winning a medal in the 800m freestyle.

“The focus for me is that I want to go faster than I have before. For that I need to focus on the processes of swimming fast, and that goes back to my preparations every day.”

She also wants to ensure that she can help the younger swimmers on the team and looks forward to that responsibility as she joins Dean Kent, Helen Norfolk and Rio teammate Glenn Snyders as a three-time swimming Olympian.

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