LEAVING her lost for words, Georgina Nelthorpe’s debut Commonwealth Games ended with a medal-winning performance in the freestyle wrestling.
The 21-year-old from Burnley was a silver medallist in the British Championships last year and won a medal at her first international competition when taking bronze at the Sassari International last year.
And it seems she is making a habit of medal-winning debuts after working her way to bronze on Australia’s Gold Coast.
“That was incredible, absolutely incredible – I could not ask for a better feeling in the world,” she said.
“That was an amazing good match and I got it done – I have put two years into this and it was worth every minute.
“I wanted to win, for my first Games – I have wrestled an Olympic champion, had some tough competitors and I am so proud to be representing England.”
Nelthorpe’s campaign began with a quarter-final victory over Australia’s Naomi de Bruine but in the semi-final she came up against Canada’s Erica Weibe, who proved just too strong for the Team England athlete.
But in the bronze medal match she re-found her form and overcame Sierra Leone’s Hajaratu Kamara in the podium play-off.
“That fight went really well, I was aggressive, I wasn’t backing off and this is just amazing – I am speechless to be honest,” she said immediately after the bout.
“I can’t wait to get the medal around my neck.”
Nelthorpe is making her Commonwealth Games debut on the Gold Coast and has been impressed by what she has seen.
And with a bronze medal around her neck she is now targeting the Tokyo Olympic Games, as well as a return to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
“Australia should be very proud for how they have hosted these Games, I have loved every minute of it,” she added.
“I am only 21, this is my first games and I could not ask for a better time.
“I am definitely looking at 2020 now, and then hopefully going for that gold at the next Commonwealths.”
Elsewhere on the Gold Coast, fellow Burnley athlete Felicity Pickard enjoyed another victory in the TT6-10 women’s singles table tennis.
The 23-year-old defeated India’s Maitreyee Sarkar 11-5 11-8 11-9 to finish second in Group 1 and qualify for the semi-finals, where she will face Nigeria’s Faith Obazuaye.
npower is the Official Partner of Team England and is giving our athletes the power of support by recording a brand new version of their anthem, Jerusalem. To listen to the track visit npower.com/teamengland
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here