REPRESENTING Team GB at the 2012 Olympic Games remains the dream and competing for England at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi is 2010’s most enticing goal, yet Zoe Smith hasn’t forgotten her Greenwich roots.
The 16-year-old launched her record-breaking weightlifting career at the London Youth Games and she intends to return to the event in July to represent her borough at Europe’s largest annual youth sports event, which is funded by Sport England.
Smith, who has won gold at the Commonwealth Youth Games and broken over 200 British records, said: “It’s great competing for Greenwich.
“It’s where I was born and where I have always lived, so it means a lot.
“I don’t think there is much difference representing Greenwich to representing England or Great Britain.
“It’s the same principle, you are selected to represent a place where you are from, so it always makes you proud.
“I will know a few other people competing in other sports too, so I will definitely go and cheer on the others from Greenwich at the London Youth Games.”
She added: “This will be my fourth year at the London Youth Games. I competed in the gymnastics in 2007 before I was asked to try out for the weightlifting team by my club Europa.
“I said I’d have a go and it turned out I was pretty good. The London Youth Games is like home for me.
“It’s a special place because that is where it all started.
“I was ok at gymnastics but I had never imagined myself competing in international sport like I am now and it all started at the London Youth Games.”
Smith is leading something of a chaotic existence at the moment.
She is in the middle of her GCSE exams and is also due to compete at the European Youth Championships in Valencia later this month before the British senior championships in Kilmarnock in June.
Smith also recently featured on BBC television’s Olympic Dreams programme as a 2012 hopeful.
“It was so exciting,” she said.
“It was strange seeing us on TV and my mum, dad, sister and I sat there in silence watching it.
“I didn’t find it too embarrassing either, I actually quite enjoy some of the attention.
“It’s quite nice to be recognised for something you’re good.”
Looking ahead to the next crucial few weeks, she said: “The European Youth Championships are on May 20.
“It’s for U17s and I am hoping for a medal.
“After that I have the British senior championships in Kilmarnock on June 26 where I want to qualify for the Commonwealth Games in the 58kg class.
“I was just slightly over the weight at the English Championships earlier this year, so I had to compete and qualify in the 63kg class.
“But I’ve got a better chance at 58kg, so I want to qualify in that class.
“I want to compete and do well at the Commonwealth Games.
“A medal would be great, but I can’t guarantee that.”
All of this has to be finely balanced with her education.
She said: “I take my revision books with me wherever I go and try to fit it around training.
“When I go to Leeds for a training weekend, I have to revise in between. I’d rather be socialising, so it’s a little bit annoying, but it’s what you have to do.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article