Nelson keen to make up for lost time (From Stourbridge News)

Nelson keen to make up for lost time

10:00am Saturday 5th January 2013 in Sport

EMILY Nelson’s dream of competing at an Olympics has already come one step closer, and the talented borough cyclist is desperate to make the most of her chance.

Nelson has been selected to join the Olympic Development Programme (ODP), marking her out as one of Britain’s most talented up-and-coming riders.

The 16-year-old joins four other girls in the British Cycling set-up and has already been for a five-day training camp, with a trip to Glasgow still to come before Christmas.

Nelson won bronze and silver at the National Youth and Junior Track Championships in Manchester at the end of August, before a crash in the points race saw her sustain a leg injury which kept her off the bike for the best part of two months.

But the Halesowen Cycling Club member is now back in the saddle and desperate to make up for lost time.

Nelson said: “Before the injury I had hoped to medal in each of my races at the nationals so that was a bit of a disappointment for me.

“I came away with two medals but I was out of action for quite some time with calf and hamstring injuries, just a bit of muscle damage because it was quite a bad fall.

“I've been back in training for the last three or four weeks and am trying to make up for lost time in getting my full fitness back.

“It was a real boost to find out that I was one of the five girls chosen to be on the ODP.

“Getting on the ODP is the first step to one day achieving my dream of competing at an Olympic Games, I’m well on the way now.

“As a member of the ODP I now have a great chance to be selected for the World and European Road Championships next year as well as the world track championships.

“There are five girls in the ODP and for the road champs we take a six-person team so I should be in with a good chance of going to that.

“But the track is a different matter, there are only three or four girls so it’s up to me to prove I am worthy.”

Lloyds TSB Local Heroes, in partnership with SportsAid, provides support and funding to 346 of Britain’s most talented developing athletes on their journey to London 2012 and beyond. Since 2008, the programme has supported 1,000 athletes.

Follow future stars at facebook.com/ lloydstsblocalheroes