Wrestler Kelly, 13, gets Great Britain call

11:17am Wednesday 11th October 2006

FALLS and submissions fill the life of a teenager more interested in fighting her way to the top than shopping.

Sporty Kelly Kay is only 13, but has already set her heart on following some of the legends into the ring after being picked for the Great Britain Women's Wrestling team.

Kelly, who attends Harper Green School in Farnworth, said: "It is really exciting to have been picked for the team. I am very pleased. I didn't expect it. There are only three in the team and the others are older than me."

Kelly has been wrestling for the past four-and-half-years after being introduced to the sport by her dad, Paul, and brother, Ryan aged ten.

She will be representing her country in the European Championships in France on October 27. Her sponsors include her high school.

Kelly said: "Wrestling sort of runs in the family. My dad was a wrestler until his teenage years and my brother and sisters, Liz, who is 15 and Zoe, who is 11, all do it,l too.

"It is a great sport, it keeps me off the streets and there are all the health benefits which go with taking part in sport."

The teenager is a member of Bolton Olympic Wrestling Club. She trains six times a week and has taken part in numerous tournaments - the latest being the Scottish Open where she finished second.

"I have been all over Europe taking part in tournaments," she said.

"It is through that that I have been picked for the Great Britain team. Being picked for the team makes me want to train more.

"My family are really pleased for me and are egging me on."

"My ambition is one day to take part in the Olympics and after that to become a professional wrestler."

And when she is not taking on opponents, Kelly says she enjoys playing football.

"I don't like shopping or anything, I just really enjoy sports," she said.