Jersey athletes grateful for community support

A Jersey athlete has said the island's community gives "a lot of support" for people like herself trying to reach the highest level of their sport.

Coastal rower Natacha Searson is targeting a place at the 2028 Olympic Games after being selected for the Great Britain coastal rowing team last month.

The 22-year-old is part of the Jersey Sport performance programme which helps cover costs she incurs while competing around the world.

Searson admitted Jersey athletes face logistical challenges due to not being part of the UK, but the island's sense of community can help people like herself.

Searson recently travelled to Barbados to compete in the 2025 Commonwealth Rowing Association Beach Sprint Championships with the GB Rowing Team.

She said: "Even though we're missing out on some opportunities like being able to access races easily and high levels of competitions - I do think because it is such a community in Jersey that there is a lot of support."

Searson added: "Being from like a small community does like help move you forward... it's always cool to come from somewhere small and be able to do big things.

"Just take opportunity of everything as it comes and say yes to everything – would be my advice".

Luca Picotto, 18, is from Jersey and plays for Brentford FC's B Team and said the support from his family was vital.

His family moved from the island to the UK to help him when he signed for Fulham's academy when he was 14 before he moved to Brentford in the summer.

Picotto said: "Moving over to London was the biggest sacrifice... my whole family - so my mum, dad, brother, sister came over with me."

He added: "They were all really supportive of me and always have been throughout my career so far so I've never really felt pressured towards anything for them for moving over."

Jersey athletes must make a big commitment from an early age if they want to compete at the highest levels of their sport.

15-year-old Kai-Lloy was released by Southampton Academy and has signed for Plymouth Argyle.

He said: "My dad sacrificed a lot, my whole family sacrificing everything... it's a very big step".

"Also getting into the Jersey Bulls Academy was really important too because we went on lots of trips together so you get more recognised in these kind of systems," Kai-Lloy added.

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