Q&A with….Zoe Smith | More than the games

AT just 15, Zoe Smith is a young girl with a big weight on her shoulders, but the London 2012 hopeful burdens the expectation with ease.

BIG WEIGHT: Teenager Zoe Smith is a weightlifting hopeful for the London 2012 Olympics (Getty Images)

Despite her tender years, the teenage weightlifter is already expected to fly the flag for Great Britain at the London Olympics.

But Smith is taking it all in her stride, and reveals fitting training in to her schedule is a doddle.  Here she is in conversation with ‘s Richard Anderson.

Q – Does the fact that the 2012 Olympics are in your home city make it all the more important for you to compete in three years’ time?

A – I got the chance to go to the Olympic Stadium a few weeks ago and that really brought it home for me. It made it all seem a lot more really.

I’ve got a lot of smaller competitions to focus on in the meantime but in the long run, everything is geared towards London 2012.

I’m really proud to know that my first Olympics, provided I do go, will be in my home country and that is a once in a lifetime experience.

Qualifying will be a lot closer to the time. I’m not entirely sure if we get automatic qualification – I think we do get some and so hopefully I can be one of the ones.

Q – You are widely regarded as one of Britain’s genuine hopes for a medal in a sport that this country is traditionally not very good at. What level are you at currently?

A – Last October I won the Commonwealth Youth Games and since then I went on to do the World Youth Championships, I didn’t win anything but it was great experience.

In Britain I’m the junior and youth champion which is fantastic but I’m still on my way to becoming the senior champion, that’s the main goal for me.

Q – And what’s the next step?

A – In October I’ve got the British under-18 championships, then a month later there’s the tri-nations which is England versus Norway versus Sweden so I’ve got plenty to sink my teeth into.

But it’ll be all about become the best in the country in the seniors before I can start thinking about the London Olympics.

Q – Obviously, you’re still at school, do you find it hard to juggle your studies and training?

A – I don’t really do that much training to be honest so it’s not a major problem for me. I do about two hours for five nights a week so it’s OK to squeeze it in.

Some athletes think that’s not very much at all. There are some athletes who are doing double sessions in the gym every day but I’m still quite little I suppose.