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| Olympics to the NHS frontline, athlete does it all | Olympics to the NHS frontline, athlete does it all |
| (7 days later) | |
| Modern Pentathlete Kerenza Bryson competed at her first Olympics in Paris last year | Modern Pentathlete Kerenza Bryson competed at her first Olympics in Paris last year |
| Olympic modern pentathlete, Army reserve officer and now qualified doctor, Kerenza Bryson has more going on in her life than the average 25-year-old. | Olympic modern pentathlete, Army reserve officer and now qualified doctor, Kerenza Bryson has more going on in her life than the average 25-year-old. |
| She juggles swimming, fencing, horse riding, shooting and running training while working at the Royal United Hospital in Bath. | She juggles swimming, fencing, horse riding, shooting and running training while working at the Royal United Hospital in Bath. |
| She made her Olympic debut in Paris 2024, finishing in ninth place after being the top qualifier for the final. | She made her Olympic debut in Paris 2024, finishing in ninth place after being the top qualifier for the final. |
| Bryson, from Plymouth, started her medical training six years ago, taking two years out to train as an athlete full-time. | Bryson, from Plymouth, started her medical training six years ago, taking two years out to train as an athlete full-time. |
| Bryson led the pack after the semi-finals at the Paris Olympics in 2024 | Bryson led the pack after the semi-finals at the Paris Olympics in 2024 |
| Both of her parents come from a healthcare background. Her father is a scuba diving doctor and her mother is a nurse. | Both of her parents come from a healthcare background. Her father is a scuba diving doctor and her mother is a nurse. |
| She said the family connection was the "initial spark that set off my passion for being a doctor", and "I really loved the idea of the problem solving, but also the difference you can make to people's lives". | She said the family connection was the "initial spark that set off my passion for being a doctor", and "I really loved the idea of the problem solving, but also the difference you can make to people's lives". |
| But doing it all came with its challenges, combining long days studying with her training schedule as an elite athlete. | But doing it all came with its challenges, combining long days studying with her training schedule as an elite athlete. |
| "It was a very full-on schedule and routine's really important for me to be able to keep going with that week in, week out," she said. | "It was a very full-on schedule and routine's really important for me to be able to keep going with that week in, week out," she said. |
| "I had an amazing support network around me which helps me do that. But I had to make a lot of sacrifices that the average student probably wouldn't". | "I had an amazing support network around me which helps me do that. But I had to make a lot of sacrifices that the average student probably wouldn't". |
| She graduated from medical school in 2023 and qualified for her first Olympics the same year after a run of top international results saw her become the European champion. | She graduated from medical school in 2023 and qualified for her first Olympics the same year after a run of top international results saw her become the European champion. |
| Despite her disappointment at not getting a medal in Paris, Bryson now sees the experience as a huge achievement. | Despite her disappointment at not getting a medal in Paris, Bryson now sees the experience as a huge achievement. |
| "It was so incredible, and to be shoulder to shoulder with people who I have looked up to as inspirational role models for so long and being able to go out and do my thing in front of a crowd that big, it was just like a dream," she said. | "It was so incredible, and to be shoulder to shoulder with people who I have looked up to as inspirational role models for so long and being able to go out and do my thing in front of a crowd that big, it was just like a dream," she said. |
| "I didn't quite get the result I wanted in the end, but it was my first Olympics. Nothing can prepare you for all the variables and pressures of competing at the games, but I was very grateful to have so many friends and family there to watch me and just such an amazing team around me." | "I didn't quite get the result I wanted in the end, but it was my first Olympics. Nothing can prepare you for all the variables and pressures of competing at the games, but I was very grateful to have so many friends and family there to watch me and just such an amazing team around me." |
| Bryson's parents, Debi and Phil Bryson travelled to the Paris Olympics to support her | Bryson's parents, Debi and Phil Bryson travelled to the Paris Olympics to support her |
| Bryson said she has taken many of the skills developed as an athlete into her training as a doctor, including "resilience, time management and organisation". | Bryson said she has taken many of the skills developed as an athlete into her training as a doctor, including "resilience, time management and organisation". |
| But the change from full-time athlete to full-time doctor has been a challenge, "I'm struggling to balance as much training as I would like at the moment," she said. | But the change from full-time athlete to full-time doctor has been a challenge, "I'm struggling to balance as much training as I would like at the moment," she said. |
| Bryson added it is "trial and error, I am trying to figure out the best way that I can manage it all. It's all a learning process". | Bryson added it is "trial and error, I am trying to figure out the best way that I can manage it all. It's all a learning process". |
| She said she is concentrating on her newest role at the RUH. | She said she is concentrating on her newest role at the RUH. |
| "I am trying to focus on getting into the flow of being a doctor and giving my patients the best care and not prioritising sport right now," she said. | "I am trying to focus on getting into the flow of being a doctor and giving my patients the best care and not prioritising sport right now," she said. |
| "Once I'd done my first year of medicine full-time I can then look at what's achievable and hopefully move back into full-time sport, where I'll be focusing on World Cups and qualification for the LA Olympics in 2028." | "Once I'd done my first year of medicine full-time I can then look at what's achievable and hopefully move back into full-time sport, where I'll be focusing on World Cups and qualification for the LA Olympics in 2028." |
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