Jaguar Academy of Sport

Sophie Lewis, 16, from Camberley in Surrey has just secured a 2010 bursary from car giant Jaguar to help with her trampolining training.

The Jaguar Academy of Sport is a long term commitment by Jaguar to British Sport. Fronted by some of the very best British sportsmen and women of past and present times. The Jaguar Academy of Sport will recognise, celebrate and inspire the very best of British sporting talent and success. It's patrons include:

David Beckham
Sir Ian Botham
Gareth Edwards
Dame Kelly Holmes
Denise Lewis
Sir Steve Redgrave

British Gymnastics nominate gymnasts in the 3 Olympic disciplines, Artistic, Trampolining and Rhythmic. Provided that top competitors in the sport are extremeley young (the IOC have enforced a minimum age of 16 for senior representatives since Beijing), the lottery funding kicks in from age 13 in the UK for the most talented gymnasts. British Gymnastics have set up an elite performance squad made up of 24 athletes and sitting just below their lottery funded group. These gymnasts are considered for SportsAid funding.

Sophie came into trampolining at the age of 9 from an artistic gymnastics background. She trained in both Aerobics and trampolining gaining GB selections in both disciplines. However, she gave up aerobics in 2008 to concentrate on her passion,; trampolining.

She has gained ,ultiple accolades including the Chris Fordham Memorial Cup, a trophy given to the trampolinist scoring the highest overall score at the Welsh Championships. She is the only female to have ever won it.

She represented GB at the U16 World Championships last year and has been selected for the U18 European Championships this year.

Her achievements can be found on the Jaguar Academy site and further information, well done from Atlantic Trampolines!