Emma grapping with Olympic Hopes
*First published in The LINC Magazine, Winter 2008
The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games may seem like a distant memory now, but one young woman from Wigan has already got her sights set on the next event; the much-hyped London 2012 games.
Abraham Guest pupil, Emma Watts, is currently receiving high praise in the world of wrestling, after working her way through the ranks and proving that the tough nature of the ancient art of grappling isn't just for the boys.
"I was already playing rugby and things like that, so my teachers asked me if I wanted to do this as well" explains Emma on her introduction to the sport, "I went along to our school competition and won both best female and best over all. That was a good feeling and I've loved wrestling ever since."
Impressing those in the know from the get go, Emma was soon scouted by coaches from Aspull Olympic Wrestling Club, and hasn't looked back since.
She earned a silver medal at a competition in Wales, and was inspired to take things to the next stage."After I won the silver, I thought 'well, I'm good enough to get this far, I might as well give the British Championships a go," she says.
It was a brave move that ultimately paid off.
Going up against other girls from around the country, Emma walked away as the British champion in her weight group, and puts much of her success down to not only her own hard work, but that of her coaches, too.
"The coaches really couldn't do more for you. They're so encouraging and that's really good to help you carry on."
And carrying with wrestling seems to be exactly what Emma is determined to do. Bringing the gold home to Wigan, she had a further honour bestowed upon her as an ambassador of the sport in Wigan, which sees her reaching out to younger children and promoting her discipline of choice.
Speaking to The LINC, Emma is genuinely enthusiastic about wrestling."I'd definitely recommend it to other girls," she says. "You meet a lot of new friends doing this, which I really like, you always have a lot of fun and it's an amazing feeling when you win a competition."
So eager is Emma to get more young people into the sport, that she's also involved in coaching others.
When we catch up with her at school, she has just wrapped up a coaching session with a group of primary school children who all seem to have enjoyed their time on the mat.
For Emma, this is one of the most rewarding aspects of her involvement in wrestling."I really enjoying coaching," she says. "I love seeing the smiles on younger children's faces when they've enjoyed. I'd love to get more involved in coaching once I've left school."
But Emma's coaching ambitions aren't likely to get in the way of her desire to compete.
As The LINC went to press, Emma was looking forward to competing in the Aspull International competition at Robin Park, training four days a week in the build-up to the event. Something she looks set to continue as she sets her sights even higher.
"I'm definitely trying for the next Olympic Games," she says confidently. "It's going to take a lot of hard work, but I'm determined to keep training as much as I can and making sure I give one hundred and ten percent in everything I do.
"With such a level of enthusiasm and dedication to her sport, she could well be on her way to London come 2012, and all of us at The LINC wish Emma the best of luck!
By Chris Skoyles