Those are the words of Sara Parfit, who in the build-up to the Glasgow 2026 team announcement would have been more than happy to match the sum of eight swimmers from Birmingham 2022.
Several swimmers on the outskirts of the original picture, including 14-year-old Zach Maiden and the just-turned-15 Henry Bolton, now feature in a squad that makes up 60% of this year’s Team Guernsey competitors.
These swimmers provide bright prospects for the Malta 2027 Commonwealth Youth Games, but Parfit is not taking for granted the honour of competing at the senior equivalent – the 2030 edition of which is to be held in Amdavad, India.
‘You don’t know how the world is going to be in four years’ time,’ she said.
The five female first-timers are sisters Delphine and Elodie Riley, Emma Bourgaize, Tallulah-Mae Rautenbach and Oriana Wheeler.
In contrast, experienced brothers Charlie-Joe and Ronny Hallett provide a sibling spearheading to the squad, while Orla Rabey, Tatiana Tostevin, and Molly Staples are also returning.
‘Very excited – lots of swimmers have a wonderful opportunity to go for the Games,’ Parfit added.
Whereas the initial bunch of swimmers would have been eligible only for the women’s and mixed relays, the addition of Maiden and Bolton means they can field teams in the men’s equivalent.
‘We had two male swimmers,’ the coach added.
‘We now have two more great sprinters, especially Henry Bolton, who will now be able to achieve some results in the relays.
‘We are going to have a very full programme.’
Parfit will also not allow the swimmers to rest on their laurels now that they have been selected.
‘I’m absolutely delighted. All of them, they’ve worked hard to get where they are at the moment and, now being told they’ve got a place, they will be doubling their efforts to make sure they are ready for the Games.’
Guernsey swimmers selected for Glasgow 2026
Tatiana Tostevin, Oriana Wheeler, Orla Rabey, Delphine Riley, Emma Bourgaize, Molly Staples, Elodie Riley, Talullah-Mae Rautenbach, Charlie-Joe Hallett, Ronny Hallett, Zachary Maiden, Henry Bolton.
