Chloe Birch has become the latest athlete from Loughborough College to be selected for this year’s Commonwealth Games.
The rising star won the English National Badminton Championships Women’s Singles trophy, her first senior title, last year and will be hoping to add another to her name when she lines up in Australia in April.
“Obviously I am really happy to be selected for the Commonwealth Games; this Games has always been a goal of mine, so to finally be selected is amazing,” said Chloe, who recently graduated from Loughborough College with a degree in Applied Sport Science.
“The sport wanted me to go full time at 18 but education was important to me.
“It’s not easy being a student athlete but the College made it possible. They gave me the flexibility I needed to train and compete and to achieve academically. I am really grateful to them for that.”
Since graduating from the College Chloe has been based at the National Badminton Centre in Milton Keynes, ““Everything is coming together. I train several hours every day. It’s busy, but I’m not complaining.
“The last eight months of focusing solely on badminton has massively helped me gain selection.
“We’ve got a couple more tournaments coming up before we leave so I’m hoping to perform well at them and take the momentum to Gold Coast and play the best that I can.
“It’s exciting that there is a team event as well as the individual, and I’m just so honoured to represent my country at a major multi-sport event.”
Pictured: Chloe Birch, the latest athlete from Loughborough College to be selected for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia