A Natural Love for the Water
Jessica Plews is a committed dual-discipline athlete, balancing competitive swimming and artistic swimming while representing Derwentside & Gateshead Swim Team and Gateshead Artistic Swimming. From a very young age, Jessica has felt at home in the water, enjoying everything from diving into the pool to spending time with the friends she has made through swimming.
From Learn to Swim to Racing
After completing Stage 7 of the Learn to Swim programme, Jessica progressed into the council-run Swim Challenge programme. It was here that her coach recognised her potential and encouraged her to join competitive swimming. Although she initially felt nervous about racing, her first gala quickly changed her perspective. The excitement of the warm-up, stepping onto the starting blocks, and hearing the whistle helped her realise how much she enjoyed the competitive environment.
Discovering Artistic Swimming
Jessica’s pathway into artistic swimming began through curiosity. While completing her swimming stages, she noticed an artistic swimming team training in the pool. Having previously taken part in gymnastics, she was immediately drawn to the combination of swimming, dance, and flexibility. Once she understood what the sport involved, she was keen to try it for herself.
Learning, Performing, and Progressing
Joining artistic swimming was both exciting and nerve-racking. At first, Jessica was unsure what to expect, but she was motivated by the opportunity to learn new skills. Over time, routines have become her favourite part of the sport. While learning individual figures can be challenging, she finds it extremely rewarding when those elements come together in a routine performed to music.
Balancing Two Aquatic Disciplines
Training in both competitive swimming and artistic swimming requires careful planning and commitment. Jessica splits her weekly training between both clubs and adjusts her focus depending on upcoming galas, gradings, or competitions. This approach allows her to prepare effectively while continuing to develop in both disciplines.
Transferable Skills Across Sports
The crossover between swimming and artistic swimming has been highly beneficial. Artistic swimming has helped improve Jessica’s underwater skills and butterfly stroke, with flexibility playing an important role. Competitive swimming, in turn, supports her artistic swimming by developing stamina and speed—both essential when moving quickly across the pool during routines.
The Importance of Support
Support from coaches has been vital in allowing Jessica to succeed in both sports. Coaches from both clubs have shown flexibility, allowing sessions to be adjusted when important events clash. They have also communicated directly with one another to ensure Jessica can continue developing to the best of her ability across both disciplines.
Family and School Commitment
Jessica’s parents play a huge role in her sporting journey, dedicating significant time to transporting her to training sessions and competitions across the UK. Her school has also been very supportive, recognising the physical demands of her schedule and allowing flexibility around nutrition during the day to help maintain her energy levels.
A Key Milestone in Artistic Swimming
A major highlight for Jessica was moving into the 15-and-under artistic swimming team and successfully qualifying for the Gateshead Artistic Swimming County Squad. After a nerve-racking trial process, securing her place was both exciting and rewarding.
A Message to Other Young Athletes
Jessica encourages other young swimmers in the North East to explore more than one aquatic discipline. While balancing two sports can be challenging, she believes the experience is fun, rewarding, and well worth the effort.
