Alice Hopkins excelled on her Great Britain debut at the Indoor Combined Events International Match at the end of January.
Alice who is from Thame and an Oxford City AC member finished 6th at the event in Cardiff, setting a personal best of 4,080 points in the senior pentathlon.
Alice achieved three of her personal bests in five events and in doing so contributed to Great Britain winning. (60m hurdles - 8.64secs, high jump - 1.74m and 800m - 2.25.61)
Alice's first taste of athletics came in a primary school sports day in Year 6. A recommendation from her Headteacher to join a sports club meant that Alice would test herself at Oxford City AC. After not initially enjoying it, she persevered, and it wasn't long before she found a love for hurdles and various other events.
2018 was a fantastic year for Alice, winning golds in the Under 23 National Championships for Long Jump and the Senior South of England Heptathlon Championship. She also finished 3rd in the Manchester International Home Combined Events which placed her at number 12 in the United Kingdom.
It hasn't always been plain sailing for Alice. A stress fracture in the last year of her A Levels meant that she couldn't compete for a whole year. After changing her coaches to Marcia and Ian Marriott in 2017, Alice took a gap year to focus on the sport she loves and hasn't looked back since.
Now 20 years old, Alice has set her sights on competing on the GB team at July's Under 23 European Championships in Sweden.
Alice said: "Since stepping on the track for the first time at the age of 10, my dream of becoming an Olympic athlete hasn’t changed. I love what i do, I feel privileged to be able to do what I do and I love training and competing. I do have to sacrifice time with friends and my family, sort family events around my schedule, but it’s worth it to have the potential to fulfill my dreams.
"I am honoured that I have been able to represent my country at the age of 20 and I want to keep doing so. At the moment I am self funding from savings and have a very supportive family, but obtaining support from a sponsor would enable me to carry on training full time and get me closer to my dream."
If you or your company would like to sponsor Alice then please drop us an email at [email protected] and we will put you in touch with Alice.
