ALL the hard work in training has been done and now it is time for Jessica Poyser to represent her country in a major sporting event.

Rudheath resident Jess will be swimming for Great Britain during the nine days of the Special Olympics World Games in Germany, starting on Saturday.

And Jess, who trains and swims with Cheshire Penguins and Winsford Turtles, is relishing the challenge, saying: “I can’t wait to get to the Games.

“I’ve been training hard all year to be there, and I’ll give it everything to win a medal.”

Her selection was confirmed last November and she has been supported by Oliver Valves Ltd, whose head office is sited on the Parkgate Industrial Estate in Knutsford and recently welcomed a visit by Jess and her mum, Pauline, who is also Jess’ swimming coach.

A statement from the firm says: “Oliver Valves is extremely proud of our local swimming talent.

“Jess has been preparing for what will be a very tough week of competition with 475 other swimmers.

“She is buzzing with excitement and, with only one rest day in the week, looks forward to the challenge and plans to just dive in to the big occasion, at what is the largest indoor swimming hall in Europe that holds up to 4,500 spectators.

“It was an absolute joy to meet Jess and her mum, Pauline.

“Jess is such a wonderful person who has certainly made a splash here at Oliver Valves and we’re all rooting for her and the GB team in Berlin 2023.”

The Special Olympics World Games is the largest global inclusive sporting event in 2023, with more than 7,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities competing across 26 sports over nine days.

The event in Berlin will be the first since the coronavirus pandemic and following on from the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi in 2019.

Stephen Walker, head of delegation for the Special Olympics World Summer Games, said: “For our athletes making up Team SOGB, representing your country is a massive honour.

“The Special Olympics World Games 2023 will be a celebration of inclusion, and we cannot wait to see our athletes in action doing their country proud.”

The Special Olympics GB team for this event will compete in a range of sports, including athletics, cycling and unified football, and will be led by 28 coaches and a further 22 support and medical staff.

Colin Dyer, chief executive of Special Olympics GB, said: “To represent Team SOGB as an athlete with intellectual disabilities deserves the highest praise and recognition.

“Given the incredibly challenging circumstances that we have encountered in recent years, winning a place in the Special Olympics World Games squad is not only an incredibly proud moment for our athletes, but for their loved ones and our fantastic team of volunteers who make Special Olympics GB happen.”