Leatherhead Swimming Club’s Katherine Wyld admits she is banking on one month of stress leading to five of calm as the switch from part-time student to full-time swimmer begins in earnest.

The 24-year-old is looking forward to a bumper summer, having earned selection for August’s European Championships and October’s Commonwealth Games at the British Championships in March.

Wyld’s fifth-place finish in the 100m freestyle and fourth among the English swimmers home in Sheffield was enough to book her tickets to Budapest and India in the 4x100m relay equivalent.

However, before she could even begin to think about the two showpiece events of 2010, Wyld had to tackle the final exams of her law degree at the University of Nottingham.

Wyld’s studies have held her back from swimming full-time but the Nova Centurion flyer insists she is glad a hectic May is out of the way.

“It felt amazing and such a relief to be selected for the Commonwealth Games because it really takes the pressure off for the rest of the year now,” said Wyld.

“Although, before I could prepare for any of that, I had to get my university finals out of the way – I couldn’t wait to finish them.

“I don’t cope very well with exam stress and I just couldn’t wait to get them finished and then start concentrating on swimming full-time.

“I have never been a full-time swimmer before so I am really looking forward to it now – my exams are done and I’m just concentrating on my training.

“At Nova, we don’t tend to rest that often so it is going to be a matter of just getting my head down and working hard for the rest of the year.”

Wyld swam twice for Great Britain last year – first at the Rome World Championships in August and, then, at the European Short Course Championships in Istanbul in December.

But, with two months separating two further international appearances at the European Long Course Championships and Commonwealth Games this year, Wyld has been forced to prioritise.

“Last year, with selection for the World Championships, I remember it being awful and hard work but I don’t have that worry this year,” she added.

“I can concentrate solely on my training.”

Visa is proud to be Presenting Partner of Team 2012, a team of 1,200 athletes across the UK who are aiming to compete at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. For more information go to lifeflowsbetter.com