The Chair of ‘Team West of England’, Bath MP Don Foster, is calling on Bath’s youngsters to sign up and get themselves spotted as part of the programme to find Olympians for 2016.

Talent 2016 is the latest programme to find young athletes, and has achieved past success. Victoria Thornley, a 21-year-old from Wales, was identified through the Sporting Giants programme in 2007 and subsequently gained a place on British Rowing’s World Class Start programme. In July this year, just over two years after attending a talent assessment day and first setting foot in a rowing boat, Thornley was standing on the podium at the U23 World Championships, as a member of the winning British women’s eight crew.

A trial for young athletes is being held in Bath on 10th January 2010, and budding medallists can sign up now!

Don said,

“This programme is youngsters a wonderful opportunity to come along and show that they have the potential to become an Olympic athlete. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t got previous experience in the sports in question.

“I’m sure Bath has potential gold medallist among our ranks, and the trials taking place in January could be the first step on that journey.”

With almost all athletes likely to compete in London already identified and in the system, ‘Talent 2016’ will consist of a series of searches looking to unearth athletic youngsters with the potential to reach the podium in Rio in seven years time. The first search in the series, ‘Tall and Talented’, is looking for men and woman between the ages of 15 – 22 and over the heights of 180cm or 5’ 11” (for women) and 190cm or 6’ 3” (for men), who could find success in sports where height can give an athlete a real advantage, such as rowing and basketball.

Don added,

“This is one of the first of many try outs. Even if you don’t fit into the ‘Tall and Talented’ category you can sign up now and receive information on future events.”