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Teenage champion who is worth her weight in gold
Matthew Beard, Sports News Correspondent06.01.09
SHE'S just 5ft 2in tall and 14 years old but weightlifter Zoe Smith has been crowned Athlete of the Year by the British Olympic Association.
Zoe won the title, usually only given to Olympic medallists, after taking gold at the Commonwealth Youth Games in India in October.
Weighing under nine stone, Zoe lifted three times her bodyweight, set 98 British records last year and held every record except one between the ages of 14 and senior.
Now Zoe, from Abbey Wood, is going for gold at the 2012 Olympics. She said: "Seeing the excitement of the home crowd in Beijing made me determined to try to make it to the Games in my own city."
Reader views (4)
Good on her!
I used to do a lot of weight training when I was her age when I was a rower. Having read about her today, it cast my mind back some 30 years to the weights I was capable of lifting, and she is way stronger than I was (as a boy) at the same age.
A bit of respect is called for from other commentators I think.
- George, Guildford
With good core stability you don't need a belt.
- Liberal Thinker, UK
With a country as pathetic as Britain desperate for any form of success and recognition who knows,she might even make the New Years honours list for simply participating like the Beijing 'Brits.'
A knighthood for going round in circles wearing ludicrously oversize shades and a silly hat to boot?Pffffh!
- Eddie, London
Just as well she's got that safety helmet on or she could do herself an injury.
- D Antonello, Clapham
