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British spots up for grabs in two of the four<br />
female weight classes.<br />
British officials must announce by May 30<br />
which weights they will compete in with<br />
Sarah Stevenson and Bianca Walkden,<br />
both currently third in the -67kg and +73kg<br />
world rankings respectively. However after<br />
getting an insight into the hype surrounding<br />
the Games Allen insists a desire to be part<br />
of London 2012 is burning brighter than<br />
ever.<br />
“The photo shoot<br />
for the ticketing<br />
was a really fun<br />
day. I just got to<br />
do loads of kicks<br />
and they took<br />
loads of photos, I<br />
really enjoyed it,”<br />
said Allen. “It<br />
wasn’t just fun<br />
though, I found it<br />
really good<br />
motivation as<br />
well. Now we<br />
know just how<br />
close we are to<br />
the Games and<br />
it’s inspired me to<br />
work that little bit<br />
harder as the<br />
time gets closer<br />
and closer.”<br />
“If they’re starting<br />
to put the tickets on sale then you know the<br />
Olympics must be close. 500 days will fly<br />
by and then they’ll be here and I have to be<br />
ready. I know that if I perform well then the<br />
medals will come so it’s all about working<br />
hard and improving. London 2012 is<br />
always in the back of my mind but we still<br />
don’t know about the British team.”<br />
“We’re waiting to hear what weight<br />
categories will be selected and who will be<br />
chosen within them. The margins for who<br />
will be selected are very narrow so until we<br />
find out it’s just about working hard.<br />
“There are a lot of tournaments this year<br />
for me to focus on but the truth is London<br />
is just around the corner so you can’t help<br />
but think about it. It would just mean<br />
everything if I were to qualify and be able<br />
to compete. I would love to participate at<br />
London 2012 in front of all my family and<br />
friends and that is an amazing motivation<br />
in itself.”<br />
Allen warmed up for an assault on the<br />
London 2012 Olympics at the<br />
Commonwealth<br />
Championships in<br />
India earlier this<br />
month – reaching<br />
the quarter-finals.<br />
The 18-year-old<br />
John Paul II<br />
Catholic High<br />
School pupil felt<br />
hard done to with<br />
her premature<br />
exit in the subcontinent<br />
but<br />
insists she’s<br />
learned from the<br />
experience.<br />
“Losing in the<br />
quarter-finals was<br />
pretty frustrating,”<br />
added Allen. “I<br />
went out there<br />
with the intention<br />
of medalling but<br />
my chest<br />
protector wasn’t working, it was very unfair<br />
as I didn’t deserve to lose. I wasn’t upset<br />
for that long though, I know that I gave my<br />
best and that’s what really counts now I’ve<br />
got move on and keep improving.”<br />
Lloyds TSB Local Heroes, in partnership<br />
with SportsAid, provides support and<br />
funding to 344 emerging athletes all the<br />
way to London 2012 and beyond. Follow<br />
the future stars of TeamGB and<br />
ParalympicsGB at:<br />
www.lloydstsb.com/localheroes.<br />
- submitted by Steve Bond, Sportsbeat.co.uk<br />
<strong>Totally</strong> <strong>Tae</strong> <strong>Kwon</strong> <strong>Do</strong> - 7
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