Backing for Sam’s Olympic dream (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Backing for Sam’s Olympic dream

12:28pm Friday 12th December 2008

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A YOUNG athlete has picked up the baton for the 2012 Olympics as he aims to bring a medal back to North Yorkshire.

Sam Sanderson, 18, of Thirsk, is Britain’s national triathlon champion, but the former Thirsk School pupil has set his sights on competing for Great Britain at the London Games in the modern pentathlon.

The sport requires entrants to take part in running, swimming, shooting, fencing and show jumping events.

The Harrogate College student said: “My family are proud at what I’ve done so far and do all they can to support me. It is fantastic that Britain did so well in Beijing. It shows that with the right backing and conditions, our athletes are among the best in the world. It is really inspiring me to try to do the same. I’m training between 20 and 30 hours each week.

“On top of that, I attend monthly British Pentathlon Association training camps in Bath or Gloucester and overseas in Germany and Portugal.”

Sam started competitive swimming aged ten and moved on to the pentathlon at 15. He was spotted at the National Schools Biathlon in Bath by the Modern Pentathlon Association.

He was accepted on to the sport’s national development programme.

This could lead to selection for the 2012 Olympics modern pentathlon team.

Sam, who trains at the Yorkshire Riding Centre, Markington, near Harrogate, says sponsorship is crucial. He gets support from the Modern Pentathlon Association.

He also receives sponsorship from the York-based laser measurement specialist company Measurement Devices Ltd (MDL).

Elaine Ball, MDL joint managing director, said: “We like to think we can spot a winner when we see one. Professional athletes with their eye on the London Olympics need all the financial help they can get and we are delighted to be sponsoring Sam.”

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