Neves earmarked as an Olympian

GUERNSEY swimming star Kristina Neves has been tipped as a future Olympian - and the 12-year-old justified those predictions with seven gold medals at last week's National Championships.

Neves was handpicked to join the Lloyds TSB 'Local Heroes' scheme earlier this summer and will receive £1,000 to help fund training and equipment costs in the build up to 2012.

The Guernsey Swimming Club member went a long way to justifying the investment with gold in the 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1,500m freestyle as well as the 100 and 200m butterfly at the Sheffield event.

But Neves - a pupil at the Ladies' College - admitted her Sheffield heroics hadn't come without a fight.

'I was delighted with how I swam in Sheffield and it was brilliant to come away with seven gold medals,' said Neves.

'I was swimming over five days and it was very tough competition.

'So by the end of the week I was absolutely shattered but I was really pleased to have got all the gold medals.

'My performance in the 400m individual medley also really pleased me as, although I came seventh, I started in 16th and beat my personal best by five seconds, so that was a big achievement for me.'

Neves, who is also a keen distance runner, which helps with her stamina, competed in the under-12 category at the Sheffield championships and will now have a well earned rest ahead of the Leeds Open in October.

And while admitting that the London 2012 Olympics will come too soon for her, Neves insists she will be doing everything she can to live up to her growing reputation.

'My coach is really pleased with me and over the summer my dad has been doing some coaching with me,' added Neves.

'I really can't wait for the London 2012 Olympics but, unfortunately, I'll probably be too young.

'But it will be great to watch it though, as the Olympics is definitely something I am looking towards in the future and will hopefully get to one day.'

Lloyds TSB is providing £1,000 to more than 270 emerging young sportspeople identified each year across Britain, in the run up to London 2012 and beyond.

Visit Lloydstsb.com/Localheroes for more details.