Elite athlete prepares for Special Olympics by meeting Prime Minister's wife.
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Gymnast Victoria Loftus is preparing for the competition of a lifetime - the Special Olympics World Summer Games. Victoria was invited to a special reception banquet hosted by the Chinese Embassy in London for selected members of the Great Britain Special Olympics squad and supporters of the GB Special Olympics movement. The 15-year-old Medway 2012 Elite Athlete will depart for China at the end of the month as part of a 160-strong Great Britain team. Among those to wish her and her team-mates well were Prime Minister Gordon Brown's wife Sarah, Special Olympics GB Chairman, famous former football manager Lawrie McMenemy and boxing phenomenon Chris Eubank. |
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She takes with her the best wishes of the whole of Medway, as well as those of the Prime Minister's wife and two sporting legends.
Victoria's inspiring story has captured the hearts of the people of Medway since she was born three months premature, weighing just 1lb 4oz. Against the odds and after several anxious months, her family realised she would pull through.
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Her difficult start in life left her with learning difficulties and a slight hearing impediment but she has gone on to shine as a talented young gymnast. Victoria recently told the Medway Messenger: "Gym is fun. It's something I can be good at. It's nice to be good at something." Victoria, who is supported by Medway 2012 as part of its Elite Athlete Support Programme, will be among 7,500 athletes taking part in the Games in Shanghai, which begin on 2 October. She added: "I'm nervous but I'm excited as well and I'm really looking forward to meeting people from different countries." |
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The 12th Special Olympics Summer World Games will be the biggest disability sports event in the world in 2007 and will see athletes of all levels of ability compete in 25 different Olympic-themed sports. A special send-off event is being held at the Pentagon Centre in Chatham on Tuesday, 25 September between 11am and noon and all are welcome to attend. The event has been organised by Victoria's mum Sue Mackey and the charity Follow Your Dreams, which is running a roadshow at the centre all week. |
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