by A SKIPTON teenager with a talent for shooting has set her sights on the next Olympic Games.
Lydia Eastwood, who studies at Ashville College in Harrogate, is aiming for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane in 2032.
Lydia, 14, has done fencing, swimming, running, horse riding and shooting for the GB Pentathlon Squad.
His shooting skills are now being developed by British Shooting, with hopes of competing in major events around the world.
His father, Martin, said his energy and enthusiasm for the sport was fueled by teachers at Ashville and his overall passion.
He said: “She has absolutely thrived at school because of the confidence and pride her teachers have in her.
“It would be a dream come true for Lydia to make it to the Olympics and I have no doubt she will consider it.
“What is more remarkable is that for a girl who is full of energy and often has difficulty sitting still, her concentration in training and competition is quite astonishing.”
Lydia competes in the under-16 category – often against boys in her own age group.
She won two silver medals at the 2022 European Modern Pentathlon Laser Running Championships in Marathon, Greece.
And she finished second in both the U13 girls individual laser race and the U13 mixed laser race.
Representing Team GB Pentathlon, Lydia competed at the 2023 World Championships, held in Bath, and the 2023 World Championships, held in Lisbon, Portugal – where she helped secure gold for the GB Women’s Team U13 as well as a silver medal in the Mixed Relay event.
The Laser Run is a bi-disciplinary event where athletes run, shoot and complete a certain number of laps depending on their age.
Each round includes running and shooting.
Ashville College Principal Rhiannon Wilkinson said the whole school was immensely proud of Lydia’s talent and ambition.
She said: “Lydia embodies the Ashville sporting success and competitive spirit that we are so known for, and it is wonderful to see our girls competing at such a high level with this level of confidence, resilience and of determination.”
More information about British Shooting is available at https://britishshooting.org.uk/
