The 2008 Olympics have come a little too soon for Shropshire judo star Gemma Howell - but she has still been brought on-board as a “training partner”.
Gemma, who turns 18 later this month, will meet up with the squad in Edinburgh, where she will spend the week working with the Great Britain players who have been chosen to compete in Beijing this summer.
There are just seven Brits named in the judo squad, which is made up of four men - including Wolverhampton’s Craig Fallon - and three women.
Adam’s Grammar School student Gemma competes in the under-52kgs weight division but the three British women to qualify will be taking part in the under-63kgs, under-78kgs and over-78kgs section.
The teenager, from Priorslee in Telford, had been invited to two earlier training camps but was unable to attend because of her A-Level commitments.
But she will be free for this camp at the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena from June 23 to 27.
She is planning to take a gap year at the end of her exams in order to concentrate on improving her judo.
And that could help her improve her stock still further and put her in the mix when the Olympics come to London in 2012.
Shropshire will also be represented at the training camp by Sarah Adlington, who was brought up in Bayston Hill, near Shrewsbury, but is now based full-time iin Edinburgh.
She has been named as reserve for the Olympics in the over-78kgs weight division and would come into the team should first choice Karina Bryant have to pull out for any reason.
By Chris Hudson
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