A COLLEGE student hopes to become the next champion after growing quickly in the sport.

Ella Smallcombe, 17, has been invited to join Team GB at the next World Junior Classic Powerlifting Championships being held in Istanbul, Turkey.

Ella is a student at Plume Academy and trains at Alpha Core Academy, based in Maldon.

She won the British Championships in October 2021 and claimed all the under 18 regional and English records.

Since then, she has extended her records further.

Ella and her coach Adam Fosbrook are excited for what this could mean for her early career in sport and are now raising money to travel and prepare for the championships taking place this September.

They need to raise £2500 for her to compete successfully.

Miss Smallcombe said: “I started powerlifting in 2021 after we came out of lockdown.

“I had recently left competitive swimming and once I started powerlifting with Adam at Alpha core Academy I knew I had found the sport I loved doing.

“Powerlifting to me started out as just another way to stay active and I started competing for fun.

“Being able to now compete on the world stage is just a dream come true and I couldn't ask for a better team behind me.”