I want to make a big splash in 2012

Aug 16 2007 By Poppy Brady, Birmingham Mail

OLYMPIC hopeful Elizabeth Smith is turning her life upside down to chase a medal at the 2012 Olympics in London, and she's all smiles about it.

The 17-year-old Birmingham British Synchronised Swimming Squad star has just made some tough decisions about her life to keep pace with a gruelling six hour daily training schedule.

She is moving from her Northfield home and leaving King Edward VI Camp Hill School a year early to train at the British squad's high performance centre at the Army barracks in Aldershot, Surrey.

But studying won't be over for Elizabeth, who has hopes of becoming a doctor and has just completed her A/S levels.

Instead of being at school in Birmingham, she will be studying at Farnham Sixth Form College each afternoon where she'll take chemistry and maths A-level next year, followed by biology the following year.

"It's been a really tough decision to make, living away from home to do all this," said Elizabeth, who is also studying for an advanced apprenticeship in sporting excellence.

"But I know I would regret it for the rest of my life if I missed out on the chance of the Olympics.

"My family is really proud of me, but they are also a bit anxious about it all.

"I'll be sharing a flat with a team mate while I'm in Aldershot."

Elizabeth is no stranger to juggling schoolwork with her swimming.

As a former pupil of St Paul's School for Girls in Edgbaston, her study leave for her GCSEs last summer was taken up by swimming with the British squad in Germany and China.

She must have managed to fit in some revision as she came away with 11 GCSEs.

Now Elizabeth is hoping for sponsors to back her cause.

Anyone who would like to get in touch with her can email her at beth-smith1989@hotmail.com