Esher’s Sophie Bray has excelled at football and tennis but has set her sights on representing Great Britain at the Olympics in hockey.
The 19-year-old University of Birmingham student is a county tennis star and played football for Fulham Ladies.
However, having won youth Olympics gold in hockey, Bray is happy with her choice.
“I want to break into the senior international team and my ultimate ambition is to play at the Olympic Games,” she said.
Next, though, comes representing her university at the BUCS PricewatershouseCoopers Hockey Championships from March 10-14.
Birmingham will be hoping to go one better than last year, when they went down to Leeds Met in the final, but Bray loved the experience of taking part in Britain’s biggest multi-sport event, which sees 6,000 elite athletes competing in 26 sports.
“It was amazing,” said the psychology student, part of the talented athlete scholarship scheme at Birmingham.
“There was such a great atmosphere and it is an experience I will never forget.
“Losing has made the whole team determined to reach the final again, but this time go on and win the gold.
“University sport has given me the opportunity to play at a highly competitive level regularly, as well as receive high-quality coaching and access to excellent training facilities that are right on my doorstep.
“My team-mates, my coach and the facilities at Birmingham are helping me fulfil my potential.”
Despite her Olympic medal, there is another achievement that Sophie ranks as her most important so far.
“I think I would say my greatest achievement in sport was the fourth place we gained in the Junior World Cup last summer,” she said.
“As a team, we exceeded expectations, learnt so much and it was a tournament that I will never forget.”
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