Stacey is a serious contender for Games
By Chloe Campbell
By Chloe Campbell
A NORTH-EAST schoolgirl has set her sights on the 2012 Olympic Games after winning a major judo championship.
Stacey Stevenson, 16, a pupil at Longfield Comprehensive School, Darlington, won the British Schools Judo Championship in Cardiff, last Saturday.
Stacey fought in the under-48 kilo category.
Her next ambition is to secure a place in the British team for the 2012 Olympics in London.
Having recently secured funding from Sport Aid Northern, Stacey believes a place in the Olympics has become a real possibility.
She said: "I am determined to keep on training and I'll push myself further and further until I get there."
Stacey is a member of the England World Class Start programme, which identifies young talent.
She became a member when she won a medal at the National Judo championship in Sheffield last October.
Since then, Stacey has won a bronze medal at a competition in Holland and came fifth at a championship in Portugal.
She said: "I get really nervous before big competitions, but the adrenaline rush afterwards makes it all worthwhile."
Having taken up the sport as an eight-year-old at the Dolphin Leisure Centre, Darlington, with her older sister, Natalie, she now trains every week at Newburn Judo Club, in Newcastle.
Stacey believes that her success would not have been possible without the help and encouragement she has received from the trainers at the judo club.
Her main trainer, Joe Laws, has supported her at all her competitions.
She has also enlisted the help of world class coach Agazar Armoda.
He will be with her in two weeks when she takes part in the Scottish Championship.
11:08am today
Stacey Stevenson, 16, a pupil at Longfield Comprehensive School, Darlington, won the British Schools Judo Championship in Cardiff, last Saturday.
Stacey fought in the under-48 kilo category.
Her next ambition is to secure a place in the British team for the 2012 Olympics in London.
Having recently secured funding from Sport Aid Northern, Stacey believes a place in the Olympics has become a real possibility.
She said: "I am determined to keep on training and I'll push myself further and further until I get there."
Stacey is a member of the England World Class Start programme, which identifies young talent.
She became a member when she won a medal at the National Judo championship in Sheffield last October.
Since then, Stacey has won a bronze medal at a competition in Holland and came fifth at a championship in Portugal.
She said: "I get really nervous before big competitions, but the adrenaline rush afterwards makes it all worthwhile."
Having taken up the sport as an eight-year-old at the Dolphin Leisure Centre, Darlington, with her older sister, Natalie, she now trains every week at Newburn Judo Club, in Newcastle.
Stacey believes that her success would not have been possible without the help and encouragement she has received from the trainers at the judo club.
Her main trainer, Joe Laws, has supported her at all her competitions.
She has also enlisted the help of world class coach Agazar Armoda.
He will be with her in two weeks when she takes part in the Scottish Championship.
11:08am today
FONTE (photo include): The Northern Echo - Darlington,UK
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