My name is Katie Latham. I am 16 years old and currently studying A-level Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Further Maths . I have been swimming since I was 3 but started competitively when I was 8 at Dover Life Guards Club. I swam there until I was 14, I then moved to my current club, Thanet Swim Club. I train 18 hours a week, 16 in the pool (many before school at 5.45am) and 2 in the gym. I have competed at Counties, Regionals, Nationals and International meets. My biggest competition to date was the European Junior Championships (EJCs) where I represented Great Britain in 6 events.

Most memorable sporting achievement to date

My most memorable achievement was when I represented GB in the 4×100 mixed free relay at the EJCs in Poland this July. I dived in on the last anchor leg and held off the Germans to help take the team to 2nd place behind the Russians, in a personal best time of 55.96 seconds.

Biggest sporting disappointment to date

My biggest sporting disappointment was in November 2012 when, during a school PE lesson, we were playing benchball. I jumped up to block the ball from the opposing team and a ball from the court next door rolled underneath my feet and as I came down I slid on the ball and put my hands down to cushion my fall. This resulted in me spraining my right wrist and fracturing my left scaphoid (a bone in the wrist) just a few months before the EJC trials. It eventually needed pinning which I put off until after I’d finished competing that season. It kept me out of the water for a time and it was a worrying time.

Most respected sportsperson

Michael Phelps, swimmer and most medaled Olympian ever.

Ritual before sporting competition

I have to paint my finger and toe nails in a certain pink colour before I race.

“I cannot thank the Trust enough for all the support over the past three years, I can say without any doubt that I would not be where I am today with my swimming without the financial support. For definite I would not be in America studying a degree I enjoy while also being able to the sport I love at such a high level without the help from the Trust. The training out here in America gives me hope at qualifying for the Commonwealths 2018 and then onto Tokyo 2020 which wouldn’t have been if I were still in England as I would have had to choose university or swimming as the two are not simpatico in the UK.”