VERY rarely at 25 years old will you be the oldest member of your squad by nine years, but that is exactly the case for Islander Gemma Atherley.
She headlines the Jersey women’s swim team, joined by seven debutantes, with Hannah Sterry (14) the youngest member.
Atherley’s Island Games career began in 2013 in Bermuda and since then, she has become one of the most decorated Caesarean athletes, amassing 20 medals, including five golds across four previous Island Games.
She announced herself to the world in the 2022 Birmingham Games, becoming the first female swimmer to represent Jersey in a Commonwealth Games final.
The former George Washington University swimmer hopes that she can use her experience to help her fledgling team succeed in Guernsey this year.
She said: ‘I hope that the girls can look up to me and come to me with any problems, stresses or anxieties.
‘Getting on as a team is vital and will make for a great atmosphere when we are competing.
‘The Island Games is always special as we are able to bring such a big team over to swim and it means we can compete in lots of different relay events also.
‘You never really know who will turn up for other islands, as I have raced against Olympians at previous Games. The competition can be very tough and that’s always exciting.
‘It has been a long time coming for some of the younger members of the side.
‘We missed out on the 2021 Games due to the pandemic and, although a lot of the men’s and women’s squads are new to the environment, they have been performing at a high level for a while.’
Despite inexperience in the women’s team, Atherley believes that a lack of expectation could bring out the best in her colleagues.
‘I really think there are some girls who can surprise us and compete for medals,’ she said.
‘On the day, they might not be ranked highly, but I know that they can perform above that and, with the pressure of winning taken away, I believe we could see some special efforts in the pool.’
Elsewhere on the men’s side, Robbie Jones leads a slightly more mature side that still boasts four teenagers in the eight-strong squad.
The Loughborough University student was also at the Birmingham Games with Atherley and won gold in Gibraltar 2019.
He is joined by fellow Commonwealth Games swimmers Isaac Dodds and Ollie Brehaut.
The former currently crafts his trade at Bath University, while claiming multiple medals at the previous Island Games in Gibraltar.
Swimming has traditionally provided Jersey with a rich source of medals at previous Island Games, and, with this current crop of youngsters, there are plenty of reasons to be hopeful that Guernsey 2023 will prove just as fruitful.
Swimming squad
Gemma Atherley (25)
Alana Woodhall (15)
Megan Hansford (16)
Siena Stephens (16)
Hannah Sterry (14)
Erin Goodbody (15)
Libby Powell (14)
Robbie Jones (21)
Isaac Dodds (20)
Ollie Brehaut (20)
Tom Deffains (20)
Matthew Deffains (16)
Joe Storey (17)
Luke Fleming (15)
Joe Swart (17)
