ALTRINCHAM could be home of a new young Olympian – but perhaps not in a sport that immediately springs to mind.
For Rebekah Wilson wants to represent team GB in bobsledding at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
The 22-year-old has been British number one since she was 18, but has to undergo an annual selection process before she hears if she has made the GB first team – and she doesn’t have long to wait, as the decision will be made next month.
“I’m on the Olympic long list, that’s as far as I can go at the moment, but I’ve been doing really well in selection so things are looking good,” said Rebekah.
The former Wellington School pupil was formerly a GB standard junior 100 metre sprinter before her coach suggested she switch to bobsledding when she was 17, as he thought her powerful sprinting technique would suit the winter sport. She became British number one the following year.
Rebekah trains in Runcorn and Manchester’s Sport City during the summer and then competes all over the world between October and March.
“It’s brilliant, it’s fantastic,” said Rebekah.
“It’s a difficult lifestyle but it’s your sport, it’s what you train all year for. They call it Formula 1 on ice because it’s a bit like an F1 circuit.”
Although Rebekah has been sponsored in the past, she is currently without sponsorship. If you would like to sponsor her, email Rebekah@whosthatgirl.me.uk or call 07875 877 618.
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