One of the less recognised sports at this month’s Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast (From 4-15 April 2018) is wrestling, where the home nations will be well represented in the different categories. One of these representatives is Georgina Nelthorpe who works for Fagan & Whalley Ltd. as a Warehouse Administrator at their Burnley Bridge distribution hub.
Born in Guildford, Georgina, started wrestling at school in Saskatchewan Canada having been drawn to the sport with encouragement from her elder sister who also wrestled and from her school sports teacher who had identified her talent. Six years later and a move back to the UK, Georgina is on the verge international honours having been selected for England team in the 76kg category.
Coached by Eddie Kavanagh at the Sharples Club, Bolton, Georgina has been successful at Canadian City, Provincial and National levels four times. At the official announcement and team photo session, in February, Georgina said: “It was unreal to be selected, I’m super proud to be on the team. I haven’t been to Australia before, so it will be a unique experience for me and the competition will be of a really high standard.
“I can’t wait to be part of Team England and to get to know all of the other athletes and their sports. I definitely want to go for the gold and be the first English female ever to win a Commonwealth gold medal in wrestling but whatever happens the Games are going to be a really great experience.”
Georgina and the other athletes will benefit from a specially created preparation camp for the Gold Coast that includes a number of specially selected high-performance sports and support facilities. At the heart of Team England’s headquarters inside the Commonwealth Games Village, it will provide an enhanced environment in the Village for athletes, coaches and support staff, where the team will have access to dedicated doctors, physios and a full range of clinical, rehabilitation, preparation services, kit, equipment, stretching and R&R areas.
Operations Director Graham Fagan commented. “We are delighted that Georgina has been selected for the England team and wish her every success at the games. I am sure that everybody employed at Fagan & Whalley will be following her progress with interest.”
If you want to follow Georgina at the Gold Coast Games, subject to schedule changes, she will be competing on Thursday 12th April between 10:30am–1:30pm local time [Half-past midnight to 3:30am UK time] with the final at 5pm that afternoon [7am in the morning in the UK].
