Wirral skating star Katie Powell prepares to represent GB

Feb 4 2009 by Mark Jones, Birkenhead News

WIRRAL skating star Katie Powell is preparing to represent Great Britain at the European Youth Olympics in Poland.

Katie, 16,Šis one of just four ice skaters in the country to be competing in the biggest international sports event for junior sportsmen and women, and is understandably looking forward to the challenge.

She said: “I’m nervous but really excited about going. I think it will be a really good experience.

“At the moment, I’m just going through my routine over and over to make sure I’m getting my jumps more consistently so I’m more confident.”

The West Kirby Grammar School pupil started skating when she was just five-years-old and has not looked back since, winning her first national competition when she was 12 and recently coming second in the British Ice Skating Championships held in Nottingham.

Katie added: “I love everything about skating – the competition, and especially the jumps. A lot of people hold back on their jumps, so they don’t fall, but I like to take risks and go for all the hard stuff, so sometimes I fall over. It’s funny because people say ‘I bet you never fall over,’ but I do – a lot.

“I never thought I’d be competing in the Youth Olympics, though.

“I saw the kit list for the first time recently which was exciting. T-shirts, tracksuits, sunglasses, towels, ski clothes and hats – everything had the GB Team logo on.”

The Youth Olympics in Slask-Beskidy, Poland, run from February 14 to February 21.

Glenice Robinson, headteacher at West Kirby Grammar, is inevitably proud of Katie. She said: “We're thrilled that West Kirby is being represented at the Youth Olympics in Poland. Katie has competed in a number of prestigious skating competitions but to represent her country is a huge achievement. She's done very well."