Norfolk sailor Georgina Povall has been fast tracked as a future British Olympian.

The 16-year-old Norwich High School for Girls pupil will receive a �1,000 grant towards training and competing after the Hickling Sailing Club member was chosen as one of only 262 up-and-coming athletes from England and Wales to be part of the Local Heroes sport initiative.

They all attended a star-studded launch at Loughborough University alongside Olympic triple jump champion and world record holder Jonathan Edwards.

Povall said: 'The scheme is a great help financially because sailing can be a really expensive sport. I've just moved up to the laser radial and I want to do that at the World Youth Championships this year, which are in La Rochelle in July.

'I've been there before but I was doing a different event and so in this one I will be racing against sailors that have been doing the sport for a lot longer and most will be a little bit older than me.

'The Olympics is going to be fantastic and I'd love to go down and watch. Ben Ainslie has been a great sailor over the years and I'm looking forward to seeing how he does.

'I'd like to go to the Olympics one day but it's still a long way off. Maybe Rio 2016 or the 2020 Olympics. I know I have time on my side.'

The Local Heroes initiative is designed to ensure more talent reaches the top of their sport.

Edwards added: 'Being at the workshops and seeing the athletes was incredible. They were really exciting to meet because they are really passionate about what they do and you do just think that people like Georgina are the talented future without doubt.'

• For more information on Lloyds TSB's Local Heroes, in partnership with SportsAid, visit www.lloydstsb.com/localheroes