Trampolining: Bouncing Amy aims to raise the bar

Mar 21 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

AN international trampolinist, who studies Law at the University of Chester, has her sights firmly set on the London Olympics in 2012 after representing Great Britain at the under-19s World Championships in Canada.

Fresh from finishing 12th at the Championships in Quebec, 18-year-old Amy Sims is hoping to rise to the top of the sporting and legal worlds by combining her University studies with training and competing alongside trampolining’s biggest stars.

Amy, from Hale Village in Liverpool, is ranked the fourth-best British trampoliner at U19s level. As well as representing City of Salford Trampoline Club, she is currently studying at the University with the help of a Sports Scholarship, and trains five times a week for up to six hours a day.

Amy, who finished third in a warm-up tournament for the BUSA national finals, said: “Trampolining is an Olympic sport and I’ll probably be at the right age when 2012 comes around.

“I’m improving all the time, and it would be absolutely brilliant to be able to take part in such a big event. Competing for my country in Canada was fantastic and the atmosphere was amazing.

“I seem to thrive on the pressure of competing internationally, and really I just want to be the best I can.

“Since I’ve come to the University, I’m probably training more than I ever have thanks to the great support I receive, particularly from the Sports Scholarship team.

“I have my own personal trainer now, so my fitness levels have never been higher, and I get so much help in combining my studies with all of the travelling, training and competing that trampolining involves.

“I’m hoping to go as far as I can in the sport, although my main career goal is to work in law.

“Everyone always jokes that I’ll be the trampolining barrister!”

Amy is one of the talented national and international athletes to benefit from the University’s revamped Sports Scholarship scheme.

Sports scholars receive financial and other support from the University to help them combine their studies with competing at the highest level.

Sports performance co-ordinator, Stuart Field, explained: “This year’s scholars are studying a wide range of programmes, including Law, Animal Behaviour, and Forensic Science.

“As well as financial support of up to £1,000 a year, they are offered free membership of the Fitness Suite, mentoring, and a network of athlete education and performance profiling to help towards their development as elite athletes.

“The aim of the scholarships is to help elite performers get the balance right between their sporting and academic progress.

“The scheme has recently been revamped, and we are now looking to develop it further, including attaining sponsorship from outside the institution in the hope of attracting more, higher calibre students to the University.”

For more information about the Sports Scholarship programme, contact Stuart Field on 01244 511870.