Kelly Shorten, aged 19, from Wymondham, has been picked to represent Great Britain in the World 2008 University Water Ski Championships to be held early October in China.

Kelly Shorten, aged 19, from Wymondham, has been picked to represent Great Britain in the World 2008 University Water Ski Championships to be held early October in China.

She will be part of a team of six, Kelly being one of the youngest, the criteria of which she must be undertaking a University Degree. Kelly is doing a UEA Sports Coaching Degree at Easton College and will be starting her second year in September.

As well as her degree course, Kelly is a qualified swimming instructor and lifeguard at Wymondham Leisure Centre which she fits in around her degree. Kelly has been coaching at the Bluebird Deaf Water Ski Club in Norwich over the summer teaching all ages and deaf skiers as part of her work with 'Deaftastics'.

She has been driving to Lincolnshire twice a week to train with one of the top water ski coaches in England as well as at Norwich Water Ski Club, Bluebird Deaf Water Ski Club and Pentney Lakes.

Kelly along with the other water skiers, will all be competing in three events: slalom, tricks and jump. Two weeks ago at Thorpe in London, she became the bronze British Open Nationals champion. Kelly will be competing on Bank Holiday Monday at South Lake in Bedfordshire at a jump competition and at the end of August in Lincoln at the British Youth Nationals along with her sister Danielle and in a multi-round competition held at Bluebird Deaf Club in Norwich in September.

Danielle, aged 17, has just returned from the European Under 17s Water Ski Championships in Italy where she came seventh overall in Europe and this week she is in Finland competing at the Under 21s European Championships. Danielle will be starting the second year of her Sports Diploma at Easton College next month.