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Page last updated at 14:03 GMT, Tuesday, 17 August 2010 15:03 UK

Sophie McKinna looks for Youth Olympics sparkle

Sophie McKinna
McKinna is coached by Commonwealth gold medallist Geoff Capes

The Youth Olympics would be the perfect place to set a new shot-put personal best, says Norfolk's Sophie McKinna.

The 15-year-old British under-17 record holder is set to compete in qualifying on Wednesday in Singapore, with the final scheduled for Sunday.

She told BBC Sport: "It would be absolutely brilliant to get a PB here. I'm really hoping to because I'm feeling in good shape.

"It's the first Youth Olympics so to maybe win a medal would be fantastic."

The Great Yarmouth athlete has been settling into the Olympic Village, based at the Nanyang Technological University.

In England you didn't really realise it was that big until you get out here and see the press and atmosphere

Shot-putter Sophie McKinna

"Coming into the actual village there are lots of road signs with the Olympic Rings on and signs on skyscrapers," she said.

"In England you didn't really realise it was that big until you get out here and see the press and atmosphere.

"It's massive to be part of the first one, not many people can say that."

McKinna qualified for the competition by virtue of her third-place finish at the European trials in Moscow in May.

She set her British under-17 record throw of 15.08m at the English Schools' Championships in Birmingham in July.



see also
London 2012 on McKinna's agenda
16 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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