Last updated at 12:30, Tuesday, 26 June 2012

Carlisle-born water polo ace Chloe Wilcox is celebrating after being selected in the GB women’s team for London 2012.

Chloe Wilcox

Chloe, 25, made the cut when the 19-strong squad was reduced to a final 13.

And she could barely conceal her delight as she told the News & Star: “Me and a couple of the other girls were dancing round the room when we got the email confirmation of our selection.

“Now I want to help put Cumbria on the map during the Olympics. It’s my county!”

Her participation in the Olympics is the culmination of years of training with highest-level involvement always the goal.

The Carlisle United fan and former Appleby Grammar School pupil began at Carlisle city baths under the tutorship of Andy Little and quickly progressed through the water polo ranks.

In the eight-team women’s competition Britain will take on Italy, Russia and Australia in Group B.

Australia, who won bronze in 2008, won last month’s test event at the water polo arena.

Great Britain’s women completed their programme with an 11-4 defeat by Hungary to finish last in the four-team competition.

The squad were not able to recreate the intensity they displayed during their creditable 7-6 defeat by one of the Olympic favourites, United States, and after conceding a couple of early goals were never able to close the gap on a Hungarian side who recorded their second victory over the host nation in three days.

Coach Szilveszter Fekete admitted his side were tired after playing four matches against top-quality opposition in as many days. The Olympics competition takes place from July 29 to August 12.

Wilcox said: “We’ve improved a lot as a team over the past few months, losing by two goals here and a goal there to some of the best sides in the world.

“The feeling is that we’ve only got to get a killer instinct from somewhere to give any opposition we encounter a real headache.”

First published at 11:29, Tuesday, 26 June 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk