Nightingale seals European Aquabike crown after fighting back from injury

Wednesday 26 June 2024

It's been a tough nine months for Andrea Nightingale but she returned from Portugal last weekend as Age Group Aquabike Middle Distance European Champion.

Last season was cut short as she crashed out in August at the World Cycling Champs and sustained multiple rib fractures, fluid on the lung and three weeks later due to a head trauma lost the sight in her right eye.

"It was pretty scary," she said.

"I was recovering well but this made me realise that perhaps it had affected me more than I thought.

"I was rushed to Southampton where it was repaired but unfortunately a cataract formed within a week and so in December another trip to Southampton and the damaged lens was replaced so my eyesight is probably better than ever. Always a silver lining."

Training continued during that time but it was only in January that Nightingale was able to get back out on the roads.

She has been averaging 16 hours a week since then.

"I knew I wanted to be back to the fitness level I was last year by the start of this race and with Lestyn, my coach from Entire and the generosity of John and Ravenscroft as my sponsor, who gave me so much encouragement, with a bit of determination and commitment I knew I could do it."

The river swim was 1.9k and Nightingale's 37:06 was solid for her, coming out of the water second behind another GB athlete who swam a credible 31 minutes.

"I knew she was going to be quick but not, perhaps, that quick" Nightingale laughed.

"And as it was a rolling start with the 192 athletes, male and female, all going in waves of four swimmers, you had no idea who was in each wave and where you were.

"I didn't even see her when I passed her on the first lap as I go into my own little world. I block everything out and just concentrate on what I am doing. I apparently beat her by 13 mins on the bike which was very satisfying"

Nightingale finished in 3:17:26 which was 7:30mins ahead of the silver medal and placed 14th in a field of 78 women.

"Looking at the results I would have won the 35 -39 year old age group so that was pretty cool," she smiled.

Next stop is Australia in August for the Age Group World Long Distance Aquabike Championships.

In the meantime Nightingale has trained with eight other ladies to become Breeze Cycling Champions.

"We launched three weeks ago and have a Breeze Guernsey Facebook page which gives all the details of when and where we ride.

"We have two rides, very inclusive for all abilities and all bikes, including ebikes. One is about 12k and the other around 25k which is slightly faster and perhaps more challenging. Its free, fun, and allows us to go out in group and enjoy areas of the island that perhaps you wouldn't think of riding. We hope to start our rides in different locations and organise sunset/sunrise rides so there is a variety of times and rides to accommodate all those interested."