Budding Yorkshire Olympians target Rio success

Fencer Caitlin Chang, 17, from Harrogate, triathlete Maddie Winzer, 16, Richmond, and judo player Sam Hall, 14, Sheffield, are hard in training to reach their goal of future Olympic success.

With a range of achievements stacking up for all three prospects they are eager to follow in their heroes' footsteps and win Olympic and world titles over the coming years.

"I have met Rebecca Adlington in person at a presentation I went to recently, she is really inspiring," said Chang who came second and third in recent age-group internationals in Sweden and Portugal.

"I think Usain Bolt is also really cool."

Triathlete Winzer, with two British championships to her name, cites the Dewsbury-born 2009 triathlete world champion Brownlee as a figure to look up to.

"He is really focused and when he sets out to do something he goes and does it," she said.

Judo prospect Hall finished fifth in a tournament in Russia in preparation for June's European Championships and hopes to emulate the achievements of Craig Fallon, the 2006 european and world judo champion.

"He is one of my main influences," said Hall, who also cited double Olympic silver medallist Neil Adams as a major inspiration.

If, however, such encouraging young talent is to progress, greater funding from the governing bodies is required for these minority sports to flourish.

Chang, who began fencing at eight, may have to leave her hometown of Harrogate to continue her dream.

"I have a club at Harrogate High School, but that's just one club which only opens once a week," she said.

"The facilities are not that good for fencing. Most of the top training is in London but I can't get down there. Hopefully, after school, when I'm 18 I can go down south."

"As a whole there is not much funding in the sport."

Chang, Winzer and Hall were among 20 budding Yorkshire Olympians to benefit from the Lloyds TSB and Sports Aid's Local Heroes charity which provides emerging athletes with a grant of 1,000 to pursue their dreams.

"It's really great to have this funding individually," said Chang, at the launch of the programme in Leeds.