This year’s Camp saw 75 future British Olympic hopefuls in five sports enjoying a unique insight into exactly what it takes to become the best.

 

The Camp, held at Loughborough University, featured some of the country’s top 14 to 17 year olds, who have been identified by their sport’s governing body as having the potential to make it as elite athletes in canoeing, rowing, cycling, sailing and triathlon at  the 2012 Olympics.

 

A number of Olympic medallists and world champions, past and present, including world number one female BMX rider Shanaze Reade worked alongside the young hopefuls over the four days and held a question and answer session to offer advice.

 

Reade said: “I would loved to have come to the National Talent Orientation Camp myself as one of the youngsters – it’s been really exciting.

 

"They are so lucky to have something like this and meet people like my idol Dame Kelly Holmes.

 

"I wish I’d had an opportunity like this when I was their age.”

 

David Bain, a 14-year-old canoeist from Chester, said: “The National Talent Orientation Camp has been absolutely brilliant because we’ve got to meet other young people from different sports and worked with elite athletes who have inspired us and made us even more determined to get to an Olympics and hopefully win a medal.”

 

Abbie Taylor, a 14-year-old BMX rider from Sheffield, said:  “I hope the National Talent Orientation Camp keeps going because it gives young people the opportunity to see just how much talent there is, not just in their own sport, but in other sports. Now that I’ve seen that and met people like Dame Kelly Holmes, I’m even more determined to succeed.”

 

Reade was joined at the Camp by other elite performers from the five sports, who all led workshops. including; Olympic rowing silver medallist sisters Guin and Miriam Batten, Olympic canoeing bronze medallist Helen Reeves, sailing silver medallist Simon Hiscocks, former world number one duathlete Annie Emmerson and former BMX and track cycling world champion Jamie Staff.

 

Dame Kelly, who played a leading role in putting together the programme for the Camp, led a seminar at the Opening Ceremony entitled “Expect the unexpected” where she talked about her experiences as an elite athlete.

 

She said: “It’s been an incredible four days at the National Talent Orientation Camp and something which I’m sure will stay with all these youngsters for the rest of their lives.

 

"By giving these young performers the opportunity to gain a unique sight into the life of an elite sports performer, we believe when the times comes for them to make life-changing decisions around their education and career, they will be in a much stronger position to make the right choices and achieve their full potential.”

 

For the athletes, the Camp combined high quality training sessions with workshops on ability and determination, keynote speeches on education and lifestyle planning, advice on drugs-free sport and a Higher Education Marketplace.

 

On Saturday, members of the Armed Forces put the young athletes through their paces during a series of command tasks designed to build confidence, self-esteem and develop skills in leadership and teamwork.

 

For the first time the Camp offered workshops on how schools can support their talented pupils during their development and also an opportunity for parents to get tips and advice on supporting their offspring.

 

Steve Grainger, chief executive of the Youth Sport Trust, said:  “We would like to thank everyone who has made the National Talent Orientation Camp possible this year, particularly the NBG staff, coaches, teachers, parents, and of course all the young athletes.

 

"A key part of the Camp has been about helping our young athletes from the five sports balance the conflicting priorities that they have to deal with – the training and preparation needs of their sport, the academic and education priorities and the lifestyle pressures faced by any teenager.

 

"These last few days have given the future Olympic hopefuls the opportunity to recognise the challenges and seize their opportunities.”