Super Mac leads TASS charge Down Under

Sarah McDonald competes at the World Athletics Championships in London (Credit: Reuters/Matthew Childs)

Budding medic Sarah McDonald is putting her studies on hold to chase Commonwealth Games glory on Australia’s Gold Coast, alongside more than 130 other TASS-supported athletes.

It was a tough choice and a dilemma familiar to so many elite athletes seeking to juggle the sport they love with a full-time education.

For medical student Sarah McDonald, the chance to represent England at this month’s Commonwealth Games wasn’t quite as easy as jumping on a plane to the other side of the world.

“When I got the call to say that I had been selected for the Games back in October, I had to make the difficult decision to defer the year,” said the Birmingham University undergraduate. “There was no way I could sit my fourth-year exams while I was in Australia!

“At the moment I’m halfway through my fourth year. The biggest challenge I face is being able to balance international competition and training camps (particularly at high altitude) with my placements and studies.

“As a TASS supported athlete I’m surrounded by people who can help me do both.”

McDonald’s rapid progress from talented beginner to world class athlete has propelled her into the mix for medal in the 1,500m at the 2018 Commonwealths. Last year saw the Newcastle-born runner reach the final of the European Indoors and represent her country at the World Championships in London.

McDonald is one of over 130 athletes who have benefitted from TASS support competing at the Commonwealth Games. And the 24-year-old is confident of putting herself in the frame for a podium place.

“Preparations have been going really well,” she added. “I’ve been at holding camp in Brisbane for two weeks and also did an 800m race a few days ago to blow some cobwebs away!

“Training has been going well and the sun over here is definitely helping. I had a bit of an unusually short indoor season in order to ensure I had the best preparation for the games – so hopefully that will pay off.

“I hope to make the final at the Gold Coast. I know I’m in great shape and I want to fly home knowing that I put myself in all of the right places to be in contention for a medal!”

Swapping Birmingham for Brisbane at the back end of March proved a shock to the system for Geordie McDonald. But it is the humidity, rather than the stifling heat, which is proving the biggest hurdle for the middles distance star to overcome.

“I spent all of January in South Africa – which was really, really hot,” she added. “I also went to Murcia in Spain for 10 days before I flew to Australia as the weather at home (The Beast From The East) really was hindering my preparation.

“So I’m used to the heat. The thing I’ve found hardest since I’ve arrived is the humidity – most days it has exceeded 90% humidity. This isn’t something I have experienced before…it really isn’t good for my hair either!”

With three years of medical training behind her, McDonald makes the perfect team-mate for fellow athletes feeling the strain in Australia. But the budding doctor doesn’t want anything to distract her from the job in hand.

“I think a few people know what I do off the track but I don’t go around shouting about it,” she added. “Most people just ask me if they can take paracetamol and ibuprofen together!”

Conversely, few of McDonald’s fellow students are aware that their talented classmate is on the cusp of international glory – a situation that could change very quickly should she return from Australia with a first senior international medal.

“I don’t think anyone really understands how I do it,” she added. “I don’t even know myself sometimes! When conversation goes to what people’s plans for the weekend are, most people are studying or meeting friends and family. I’m flying somewhere around the world to race!”

But wherever McDonald is she has always been able to rely on her TASS support. Physiotherapy, lifestyle support, nutrition advice and more is all part of the package available to more than 400 TASS-supported student athletes across England.

And McDonald admitted: “It’s invaluable to someone in my position. I’ve really appreciated the support of Rebecca Knight, the physio at the University of Birmingham during the last few months. She’s helped me through so many niggles and is always at the other end of the phone wherever I am in the world.”

McDonald will compete in the women’s 1,500m from April 9-10.

The full list of the TASS-supported athletes and alumni competing at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games is as follows:

Team England

Athletics

  • Desiree Henry (11/12)
  • Dina Asher-Smith (12/13)
  • Dave King (13/14, 14/15)
  • Alicia Barrett (16/17)
  • Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (04/05)
  • Emily Diamond (11/12)
  • Anyika Onuora (04/05)
  • Perri Shakes-Drayton (05/06)
  • Cheriece Hylton (13/14, 15/16)
  • Sarah McDonald (16/17)
  • Katie Snowden (11/12, 12/13)
  • Andy Vernon (04/05)
  • Callum Wilkinson (16/17)
  • Tom Gale (16/17)
  • Adam Hague (14/15)
  • Luke Cutts (05/06)
  • Lucy Bryan (11/12, 12/13, 14/15)
  • Jacob Paul (13/14, 14/15, 15/16)
  • Jazmin Sawyers (10/11, 11/12)
  • Taylor Campbell (14/15)
  • Sophie McKinna (11/12, 12/13)

Badminton

  • Rajiv Ouseph (05/06, 06/07)
  • Lauren Smith (09/10)

Basketball

  • Georgia Jones (12/13)
  • Hannah Shaw (12/13)
  • Mollie Campbell (15/16, 16/17)
  • Nicolette Fong Lyew Quee (16/17)
  • Siobhan Prior (04/05)
  • Jamell Anderson (10/11, 11/12, 12/13)
  • Joseph Ikhinmwin (04/05)

Beach Volleyball

  • Chris Gregory (08/09, 09/10, 10/11)
  • Jake Sheaf (08/09, 09/10)
  • Victoria Palmer (06/07, 09/10)
  • Jess Grimson (08/09, 09/10, 10/11, 11/12)

Boxing

  • Ben Whittaker (15/15)

Diving

  • Robyn Birch (11/12, 12/13)
  • Tom Daley (05/06)

Hockey

  • David Condon (07/08, 08/09, 09/10, 10/11, 11/12, 12/13)
  • Brendan Creed (11/12, 12/13, 13/14)
  • Adam Dixon (04/05, 06/07)
  • Harry Gibson (11/12, 12/13, 13/14)
  • David Goodfield (11/12, 12/13, 13/14)
  • Chris Griffiths (06/07, 07/08, 08/09, 09/10, 10/11, 11/12)
  • Barry Middleton (05/06)
  • George Pinner (05/06, 06/07)
  • Phil Roper (10/11, 11/12, 12/13)
  • Sam Ward (11/12, 12/13)
  • Giselle Ansley (10/11, 11/12, 12/13)
  • Grace Balsdon (13/14)
  • Sophie Bray (07/08, 08/09, 09/10, 10/11)
  • Sarah Haycroft (09/10, 10/11, 11/12, 12/13)
  • Maddie Hinch (06/07, 07/08, 09/10)
  • Kathryn Lane (13/14)
  • Hannah Martin (13/14)
  • Amy Tennant (13/14)
  • Anna Toman (11/12, 13/14)
  • Susannah Townsend (05/06)
  • Hollie Pearne-Webb (06/07, 09/10, 10/11, 11/12, 12/13)
  • Laura Unsworth (05/06, 08/09)
  • Emily Defroand (12/13, 13/14)
  • Jo Hunter (09/10, 10/11, 11/12)
  • Suzy Petty (10/11, 13/14)

Netball

  • Eboni Beckford-Chambers (05/06, 06/07)
  • Kadeem Corbin (08/09, 10/11)
  • Serena Guthrie (06/07, 07/08)
  • Jo Harten (06/07)
  • Helen Housby (13/14)

Para-Cycling

  • Helen Scott (pilot Sophie Thornhill) (07/08)

Rugby Sevens

  • Claire Allen (05/06)
  • Emily Scarratt (06/07, 07/08)
  • Natasha Hunt (07/08, 08/09, 09/10)
  • Emily Scott (08/09, 09/10, 10/11, 11/12, 12/13)
  • Alex Matthews (11/12)
  • Jess Breach (14/15, 15/16, 16/17)
  • Amy Wilson Hardy (07/08, 08/09, 09/10, 10/11, 11/12)
  • Vicky Fleetwood (Travelling Reserve) (07/08, 08/09, 09/10)
  • Phil Burgess (07/08)
  • Dan Norton (07/08)
  • James Rodwell (05/06)

Shooting

  • Ken Parr (05/06, 08/09, 09/10)
  • Kristian Callaghan (09/10, 10/11, 11/12, 12/13, 13/14, 14/15, 15/16, 16/17)
  • Victoria Mullin (08/09, 09/10, 10/11, 11/12)
  • Sam Gowin (17/18)
  • Rachel Parish (05/06)

Squash

  • Adrian Waller (06/07, 07/08)
  • Declan James (09/10, 10/11)
  • Sarah-Jane Perry (06/07, 07/08, 08/09, 09/10)

Swimming & Para-Swimming

  • Ben Proud (12/13)
  • James Wilby (14/15)
  • Jarvis Parkinson (14/15)
  • Joe Litchfield (14/15)
  • James Guy (12)
  • Thomas Hamer (14)
  • Lewis White (14)
  • Alice Tai (13)

Table Tennis & Para-Table Tennis

  • Kim Daybell (08/09, 09/10, 11/12)
  • Paul Drinkhall (05/06, 10/11)
  • Tin-Tin Ho (16/17)
  • David McBeath (07/08, 09/10)
  • Denise Payet (17/18)
  • Liam Pitchford (09/10, 10/11, 11/12)
  • Kelly Sibley (05/06, 10/11)
  • Maria Tsaptsinos (15/16, 16/17, 17/18)
  • Sam Walker (10/11)

Weightlifting & Para-Powerlifting

  • Fraer Morrow (16/17)
  • Emily Godly (10/11, 11/12)
  • Jack Oliver (09/10, 10/11)
  • Alex Collier (10/11, 13/14)
  • Ben Watson (09/10)
  • Sarah Davies (12/13)
  • Zoe Smith (17/18)
  • Zoe Newson (07/08)
  • Natalie Blake (05/06)
  • Louise Sugden (07/08, 08/09)

Team Scotland

Athletics & Para-Athletics

  • Stephanie Twell (05/06)
  • Jake Wightman (13/14)
  • Amy Carr (14)

Table Tennis

  • Craig Howieson (07/08)
  • Gavin Rumgay (06/07, 09/10)

Team Wales

Netball

  • Fern Davies (16/17)
  • Cara Lea Moseley (04/05)

Rugby Sevens

  • Gemma Rowland (08/09, 16/17)

Shooting

  • Mike Bamsey (09/10, 10/11, 17/18)

Triathlon

  • Iestyn Harrett (12/13, 13/14)
  • Liam Lloyd (12/13, 13/14)
  • Non Stanford (08/09, 09/10)

Weightlifting

  • Hannah Powell (09/10, 10/11)

Team Northern Ireland

Boxing

  • Alanna Nihell (17/18)

Shooting

  • Stuart Hill (17/18)

Guernsey

Athletics

  • Cameron Chalmers (16/17)

Badminton

  • Elena Johnson (04/05, 05/06, 06/07, 07/08)

Isle of Man

Shooting

  • Tim Kneale (06/07)
Ben Proud will represent England at his second Commonwealth Games (Credit: Action Images/Paul Harding)