Meet Jessica Bromley, Special Olympics GB World Games athlete
Before Jessica Bromley, a talented table tennis player from Wolverhampton heads to Los Angeles for the World Games, Special Olympics GB caught up with her to find out how her final preparations are going.
Jessica Bromley, 34, from Wolverhampton, is part of the LA bound GB table tennis team and comes from a very sporting family. Jessica, whose sister Victoria was at the London 2012 Paralympic Games as part of Team GB’s table tennis squad, is one of Special Olympics GB’s most experienced athletes. She loves table tennis, swimming and also looking after her four cats.
Back in 1991 Jessica started training in gymnastics to help co-ordinate her movements and after training for a year she took part in her first competition. Going from strength to strength, Jessica was over the moon when she was selected to go to the 1995 World Summer Games held in Connecticut. Jessica excelled and came back with five well deserved medals.
In 2001 alongside gymnastics, Jessica began to compete in swimming events and learned how to play table tennis with her sisters Victoria and Nicola. It took a while for Jessica to develop her table tennis skills, often losing out to her sister Victoria. However this experience only made her stronger and never put her off playing. She always kept a smile on her face. The two sisters competed in the Leciester table tennis league and both finished at the top of the table. Jessica finished 2nd in Division 1 singles just behind Victoria who took the top spot.
Jessica is now in training mode and every hour counts up until competition time at the World Games in Los Angeles. She trains for two hours on Monday and Friday at Woodfield Social Club in Wolverhampton. Then also meets her doubles partner Emma Hunt and practices for a further hour. On Saturdays she travels to Crewe for a further two hours at South Cheshire Special Needs Table Tennis Club.
Jessica said:
'I would like to win a gold medal if possible in LA. I want to meet new friends and it will be an honour to represent my country. I have appeared on Blue peter and got the famous Blue Peter badge. Special Olympics has given me more confidence in myself that I can achieve goals in my life.'
From everyone at Special Olympics GB - keep up the fantastic work Jessica. We are with you all the way. Good luck in LA!
