Team GB swimmers celebrate Olympic Games call-up by swimming with Boris Johnson turtle

In observance of their Olympic selection, two Team GB swimmers swam with a turtle bearing Boris Johnson’s name. The 23-year-old artistic swimmers Kate Shortman and Izzy Thorpe are aiming to bring home the first-ever medal for Team GB in the sport in Paris 2024.

The odd location of the Sea Life London Aquarium’s tropical reef exhibit served as the launchpad for their campaign.

Shortman said, “It’s definitely the most rogue place I’ve ever swum.”

Bringing a variety of species with them, including unicorn and batfish, Shortman and Thorpe dove in. They befriended turtles named “Dougie” and “Boris,” after the bassist band McFly and the former mayor of London, respectively.

The two-time Olympians had a unique experience with “Zebby,” the zebra shark, and “Football,” the puffer fish, mixed in.

It was actually pretty scary for me because I’m not a big admirer of the sea, according to Thorpe. It was first a little frightening. I’m not sure if I’ll volunteer once more.

“It was really fun and a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Shortman continued. In an aquarium, how many individuals get to swim?

Their Olympic sports are among the most demanding. At Bristol South Swimming Pool, Shortman and Thorpe train for forty hours a week. They work there from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and then stay late to work on video analysis so they can fix their faults for the following day.

They perform yoga, gymnastics and submersion for extended periods of time—Shortman can hold her breath for up to three minutes under water.

“I can’t stress how hard the sport is,” said Shortman, who, along with Thorpe, is one of over a thousand elite athletes supported by UK Sport’s World Class Programme, which is sponsored by the National Lottery. This programme enables Shortman to train full-time, gain access to the best coaches in the world, and receive cutting-edge medical care.

Because it’s so attractive and we’re dressed up, it serves as a diversion from the reality that this is an extremely difficult sport.

“We’re supposed to be smiling so you can’t see the pain,” continues Thorpe. It’s a phoney smile.

With a run of outstanding achievements in recent years, the bubbly Bristolians have heightened expectations for the Games.

With a single bronze in 2023, Shortman earned the United Kingdom’s first-ever medal at the World Championships, and the talented pair took home silver and bronze in February’s Worlds to earn an Olympic berth. At the Olympic Aquatics Centre in Paris last week, they also prevailed in the Test Event.

Numerous factors have contributed to their quick ascent, including a much-needed boost in National Lottery financing, Yumiko Tomomatsu, a trailblazing new coach, reoriented mindsets, and favourable rulings.

“Is the goal to take home the gold? Indeed!” exclaimed Shortman. Olympic gold, in my opinion, nearly appeared unachievable prior. It was less of a goal and more of a dream.

“At this point, our goals are clearly in focus, and we’re making every effort to reach them.”