Sportsister hears from 21 year old Freyja Prentice, one of GB’s top talents in the sport of modern pentathlon, as she gears up for a big year of competition competing at senior level and hopefully at the Olympic Games.
Name: Freyja Prentice
Sport: Modern Pentathlon
Date of birth: 20/05/90
You’ve had a great season - this must bode well for London?
Yes it started well and ended well too, but obviously that was still at junior level and it is a big step up to senior. I managed to get my first senior medal this year which is a massive stepping stone, so next year I’m going to work on that.
You’ve qualified for London, but not necessarily booked yourself a spot?
There’s only two spots available and there’s a lot of good British girls so it’s tough! They make the final decision in June, so until then if two British girls medal at the World Championships next year then that’s them basically qualified. So that’s my aim, to make sure I do well at the World Championships.
Have your successes taken away some of the pressure for next year or added to it?
It’s definitely added to the pressure. Before I was the young one coming up so the pressure was off me and on the other girls but now it’s sort of reversed. I feel people are looking at me as if I’m the one to beat in a way, because I’ve got that place and taken it away from them.
So you’re going in with a winning mentality?
Oh 100 per cent. I think any British girl that qualifies and gets to the Games has a realistic medal chance. Obviously there are the greats in the sport and it’s going to be very difficult to beat them, but I just have to try my hardest and I definitely don’t think a medal is out of my reach.
Who will be the ones to beat?
Definitely Lena Schöneborn, the previous Olympic gold medallist. She’s all of a sudden pulled everything together and dominated everything. There’s also Victoria Tereshuk who was very strong at the end of last season and Amelie Caze who will be another one to look out for.
Why should people come and watch you compete?
Because it’s just brilliant in that you get the five sports all in one and can follow the progress for an entire day. You get to see the lows and the highs which is quite an experience.
Jessica Whittington, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
