Truro City swimmer Josie Williams has been selected to represent England in the RLSS Commonwealth Lifesaving Swimming Championships in Australia later this September.
The 18 year-old from Falmouth, a member of Truro City Swimming club and Portreath Surf Lifesaving Club, was told the news after attending a two day selection weekend in Coventry.
Josie is one of the top swimmers in the county, and was invited to the selection weekend after catching the eye of the selectors over the last two months of competitions.
Building on her county ASA championship results in March, where she won five senior titles, Josie competed at the National Open Stillwater Championship at Bath University, winning two national titles.
However it was in the national youth U19 championships at Millfield School where she dominated the female events, winning five gold medals and three silvers, whilst also setting two national records.
As one of the youngest team members it was a nervous wait for the telephone call to confirm her place on the plane.
Josie said: "I am delighted to have been picked to be part of the England team. After a tough two days I was so nervous when the phone rang and then so happy when they told me I had made the team".
"I was really young when I went to South Africa," added Josie, who competed at the last championships, "and I felt in awe of the whole thing, even though I did win medals. This time in Australia I want to take it all in and fully enjoy the experience".
This selection also further enhances her international career in sport, having already won and retained an individual european junior championship title in Denmark in 2011, and again in Sweden last year while representing Great Britain.
Josie, who is currently studying A levels at Falmouth Sixth Form, receives support for training from the Cornwall Sports Partnership on their Cornwall Talented Athlete Scheme, which recognises and supports the true sporting talent in Cornwall.
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