An ambitious Esher teenager has set her sights on winning a hockey medal at the London 2012 Olympics.
Sophie Bray, 19, has already won a gold medal for hockey at the Youth Olympics, as well as representing Great Britain in tennis and playing for Fulham Ladies FC, but the University Of Birmingham student has now set her sights firmly on 2012.
She said: “I want to break through into the senior international team and my ultimate ambition, like most athletes, is to play at the Olympic Games.”
Next month, Ms Bray will compete at the BUCS Championships for the University of Birmingham hockey team. This year they hope to go one better than last year, when they were beaten in the final by Leeds Met.
Despite that defeat, she said she enjoyed the event, and the atmosphere of last year’s final had spurred her and her team to go all the way this time.
She said: “Losing has made the whole team determined to reach the final again, but this time go on and win the gold.”
She also said the benefits of her sporting life extended beyond the boundaries of the hockey pitch.
“I have found that sport is a great way to express yourself and have fun,” she said. “It has also taught me responsibility, the importance of teamwork and taught me how to handle pressure better.”
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