Ciara does not have a video yet, but here is a SAMPLE of an NCSA professionally edited video
- Sample Video
Personal Statement
I am the second of four daughters, who all train and swim competitively, my elder sister was my inspiration to enter competitive swimming aged eight with me following closely in her footsteps of wanting to train and compete at the highest level possible. To this day she is still my inspiration as to why I am still training and competing with the same hunger and desire seven years on.
Just like my elder sister leads the way for me, my sole aim is to train hard, compete with passion and in doing so lead by example to all, and be that same inspiration and positive influence to my two younger sisters and my team mates.
I am a team player and love being part of a team and the social aspects that it comes with. The transferable skills and qualities I have learnt playing for my local football (soccer) team, with a ‘Side Before Self’ attitude, I believe I would be a good addition to any swim team.
Our family has had some challenges over the past few years with my father being diagnosed with Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2019, followed devastatingly by my elder sister being diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2022 and having to undergo six months of intense chemotherapy.
This has meant that I have had to grow and learn how to manage my emotions quicker than most for my age and take on the mantel of the elder sister within the family during my sisters treatment, providing additional love and support needed to all the family in particular my younger sisters.
Coinciding with the above, I had a serious injury to my ankle ligaments in 2022 and also suffered a lingering/long term chest virus from September 2022 into 2024. As a result my times from early 2022 through to early 2024 regressed/plateaued.
Through this whole period training/competing and maintaining my high academic achievement level has been the biggest challenge of my life, with me having to quickly learn the ups and downs of life and elite sport. To survive I have had no choice but to adapt and build the emotional and mental resilience required to come out the other end, after all, If my eldest sister can come through and compete competitively again after only eight months of training following her chemotherapy treatment than what have I got to complain about!!
At long last, I am now well on the way to being fit and sharp again, eventually bettering all of my 2022 PB's by the summer of 2024 and I am ready to hit the 2024/25 season with positive energy and determination.
I am a coachable and highly driven swimmer and I truly believe with the support of a great coaching team around me and being in the right environment my swimming has the potential to elevate and reach new levels.
Being brought up in a practicing Catholic family, our strong faith and belief has helped us all pull through these hard times where many others may have fallen in life, academic and sporting perspectives. But not me, or my family!
We have a family motto,
O’Carroll’s Never Quit!!!!!
