Swim champ Nadine rises up national rankings

A RIPON Grammar School swimming star is aiming to follow her sister as an elite student athlete in the States as she rises up the national rankings.

Nadine Wilson, from Dishforth, has been placed 23rd in Britain in 200fly as she moves into the 2025/6 season.

This follows her bronze medal win at the prestigious Swim England National Summer Meet in Sheffield, where she achieved a personal best, narrowly missing silver by 0.01 seconds and gold by 0.14 seconds.

Since then, Nadine, studying geography, business and economics at A-level, has been contacted by sports management consultants to discuss taking up a sports scholarship an American university.

Nadine’s sister, Christa, recently graduated with ‘highest honors’ from Grand Canyon University in Arizona after being awarded a sports scholarship and is currently teaching chemistry in the States.

Nadine, 17, juggles her studies with a gruelling training schedule consisting of 16 hours of swim sessions and three hours of strength and conditioning sessions every week, training before and after school most days.

Her goal for 2026 is to qualify and compete at the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships, a major annual event that serves as the selection meet for major international tournaments.

So far this year, Nadine has competed at seven major events, including Northumberland and Durham County Championships at Sunderland Aquatic Centre in February, Edinburgh International Meet at the Commonwealth Pool in March and North East Regional Championships at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield in May.

“Her latest achievement at the Swim England nationals this summer is a testament to her hard work, commitment and dedication,” said her mother, Kathryn.

Nadine’s next event is a club gala in October, with her training schedule building towards North East Regional Championships in November and Scottish Short Course National Championships in December

Her main events are 200fly, 100fly, 200back, 100back.