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Page last updated at 12:05 GMT, Friday, 16 July 2010 13:05 UK

London 2012 Olympic Games on Sophie McKinna's agenda

Sophie Mckinna
McKinna trains at Loughborough University

Norfolk's Sophie McKinna may have the Youth Olympics on her mind at the moment but she is still daring to dream about starring at London 2012.

The 15-year-old shot-putter, who is the British under-17 record holder, has two years to get herself up to senior Olympic standard.

She told BBC Radio Norfolk: "Who knows, if I can continue throwing the way I am then hopefully I won't be overlooked.

"You can't miss a home Games, you've always got to give it a go."

The Great-Yarmouth athlete's current personal best is 15.08m and she will be working with former two-time Commonwealth gold medallist Geoff Capes to try and improve her distance.

"The top distances are about 20m, but I would have thought entry standard would be about 17.5m," she added.

"I've improved five metres in the last two years, so if I can continue doing that then hopefully I'll be at the Games."

McKinna is part of the Great Britain team heading to Singapore for the Youth Olympics in Singapore, which starts on 14 August.

She had qualified by virtue of her third-place finish at the European trials in Moscow in May, but her inclusion was rubber-stamped when the squad was announced on Tuesday.

"Obviously I'm very excited because it's the other side of the world," she said.

"But just to represent my country again is a great experience and hopefully the best can come out of it."



see also
Daley in GB Youth Olympics squad
13 Jul 10 |  London 2012
Four youngsters in England squad
13 Jul 10 |  Athletics
McKinna through to Youth Olympics
29 May 10 |  Athletics
Shot-putter eyes Olympic target
12 May 10 |  Athletics
Athletics on the BBC
21 Apr 11 |  Athletics


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