Kelsie Campbell had a decorated age-group career in which she represented Jamaica with distinction. The British-born swimmer harboured ambitions of doing same on her rise to the senior ranks, but that transition was significantly marred by injuries.

However, having physically and emotionally dealt with the setbacks, Campbell believes she is now back to her competitive best and is hoping to make a splash at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

It will be a homecoming of sorts for Campbell at the July 28 to August 8 Games and she, like her younger compatriots, is relishing the prospect of again sporting the Jamaican colours on what will be the biggest stage of her career to date.

Campbell along with Keanan Dols, Sidrell Williams, Mackenzie Headley, Zaneta Alvaranga, Nathaniel Thomas, Kito Campbell, and diver Yona Knight-Wisdom will perform inside the new Sandwell Aquatics Centre.

“Making the team for the Commonwealth Games has really been a big goal of mine for the past four years or so, so this is a huge deal for me,” Campbell told the Jamaica Observer.

“This is the first time I am representing Jamaica at a multi-sport Games on this level, it is huge for me because it is one of the biggest competitions I have been to in my career so far. So I just feel blessed to be here and I am just excited to represent Jamaica,” she added.

Campbell is among those viewed as candidates to take up the mantle from retired five-time Olympian Alia Atkinson and now that she is older and stronger, she believes this Commonwealth Games debut could give a clearer indication of that prospect.

The 23-year-old, who used the time away from competition to fine-tune her mechanics and train her body, has had an impressive season with her Florida International University (FIU) team which she assisted to second overall at the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) National Invitational Championship in Indiana earlier this year.

During that event, Campbell broke a school record to take silver in the 100-yard individual medley (IM) in 55.21 seconds. She also broke a programme record in the prelims of the 50m butterfly with 23.90 seconds.

Her most recent performances at the Speedo Sectionals in Plantation, Florida, yielded a first-place finish in the 50m butterfly in 28.73, complemented by third-place finishes in the 50m and 100m freestyle events in a flat 27.00s and 58.73s, respectively.

While her willpower to rise above difficult circumstances was critical to her bouncing back from injury and by extension, regaining top form, the graduate student, who is pursuing her master’s degree in epidemiology, attributed her success to the overwhelming support of family, friends, and her coaches.

Coming back from injury to a lot of people and a lot of different factors contributed to me being where I am today. First of all, my family, from an emotional and physical standpoint, ensured that I make it back to full health and having them behind me is one of the reasons why I am still swimming and swimming so well,” Campbell said.

She continued: “FIU has also been a big factor, just having the power of a whole team and a whole university behind you is incredible and really invaluable. My previous coaches have been a big part of my success and my current Coach Brien Moffitt, who I have been working with for the past three years and have already done some incredible things with him.

“The leaps and bounds that I have made with him is more than I could have ever imagined. He is so passionate and never gave up and I think I owe most of my success to him, both in and out of the pool.

By now, it is clear that Campbell started the year with enormous expectations, based on not just her accomplishments but all of the possibilities and if the confidence exuded is anything to go by, then some top performances will be on the cards.

“I am well and truly ready for the Games, I am definitely in good shape and I have been training hard. I am so excited to race, I know I am going to do great and I just can’t wait to get out there,” the bubbly Campbell noted.

“I have some time goals in mind, in fact, I do have some serious goals for these Games, but really, I just want to take in the experience. I want to represent Jamaica the best way I can, stay positive and just really enjoy myself. That’s my aim and I think with that will come fast swimming so I am excited to see what happens,” she ended.