Fit-again McDonald setting sights on European glory

The 18-year-old, who works as a swimming teacher alongside her training, has spent the winter building up her strength to competition level following a stress fracture which kept her out for the majority of last season.

And she is confident she is in the right frame of body and mind to qualify for the next round of major championships.

As part of the Loughborough Development Squad, McDonald has been working on turning her weaknesses into strengths.

And with the first European Cup race taking place in Quarteira, Portugal, at the start of April, the former North Leamington School pupil believes she has turned a corner.

“We look at taking things that we consider as lows and making them work to our advantage,” she said.

“It’s been useful for me during my winter training which has gone even better than expected.

“I’ve recovered from my stress fracture and am looking ahead to securing a good result at the first European Cup race in Portugal in April.

“Beyond that, I hope to qualify for the next European and World Championships.”

McDonald was speaking at the Jaguar Land Rover Academy of Sport workshop at the Loughborough University campus, where more than 20 of the country’s brightest athletes were in attendance.

They were offered education seminars on issues such as nutrition, time management and interview techniques, and given mentoring by former Olympic cyclist Bryan Steel, ex-England rugby union player David Flatman and London 2012 Olympian Adam Gemili.

For more information on the Jaguar Land Rover Academy of Sport workshop, visit sportsaid.org.uk