CHAMPION skater Jenna Downing is hoping to become a gold medallist if her sport can be recognised as part of the Olympic Games.
Jenna, 19, from West End Crescent, Royston, is a professional aggressive in-line skater, and is ranked number four in the world.
She is the reigning British champion and has won the title eight times.
Aggressive in-line is the name given to a form of rollerblading which involves tricks and stunts, such as sliding along rails and jumping from steps and ramps.
Jenna is now supporting an international campaign to see her form of skating recognised as an Olympic sport.
She said: “It would be fantastic to be competing at the 2012 Olympics, but it doesn’t look like that‘s going to happen now. It’s more likely to be 2016.
“I just hope that if it does become an Olympic sport by 2016 I’ll still be young and fit enough.”
Olympic sports are decided by the International Olympic Committee, and the IOC has already decided which sports will be featured in London in 2012.
Jenna will be 24 in 2012, an ideal age, but by 2016 she will be 28 and reaching the end of her competitive career.
Jenna is also a skating coach, so she hopes she will be able to train an Olympic medallist if she is unable to take part herself.
Rollerblading will have to contend with popular sports such as golf, squash and rugby for its place in the Olympics, but campaigners have been buoyed by the IOC’s consideration of skateboarding.
It is believed inclusion of sports such as skateboarding and rollerblading will help the IOC in its drive to attract a younger audience to the Olympics.
