ACPE student dives into the RIO Games

Current Australian College of Physical Education Sports Business student Jacob Hansford’s Olympic selection dreams have come true with the Blacktown local off to Rio after making the squad for the Australian men’s 4 x 200m freestyle relay team. 

The news came as a surprise to the 20-year-old, who finished fifth at the Australian Swimming Championships selection trials in Adelaide, as only first and second placegetters automatically qualify for Olympic selection.

“My coach found out first and told me the day before the official announcement on April 14,” Hansford said.

Hansford swam a personal best time at the selection trials finishing in 1.47.40s — a 0.8 second improvement on his previous fastest time.

The pressure is now on for the first-time Olympian to perfect his form; only the two fastest swimmers in the Olympic heat will join Cameron McEvoy and Thomas Fraser-Holmes in the relay.

“For example, I would like to improve my kick so I need build up my hip and glute strength and get a little more control in my core,” he said.

It’s not only the Olympics that Jacob is preparing for, as the keen sports business student preparing for life out of the pool.

“It’s all part of a greater plan; Rio is just the first step in a long and hopefully fruitful professional career in sport and I am lucky that my love of sport can turn into a career,” Hansford said. 

ACPE has recently opened its new state of the art campus in the heart of Sydney Olympic Park and is currently taking enrolments for the July 2016 intake, across all of its degrees. 

Like Jacob you can forge a future career in sport by studying a degree with ACPE.

If you would like a personal tour of the new facility or want to find out what ACPE has to offer, please visit the College on its Open Day on the 9th July or call 1300 302 867.