Cononley’s Bethan Latham, a European silver medallist at this year’s U-23 European canoe slalom championships, has gained financial support in her bid to represent Great Britain at the Olympic Games.

Speaking of her place on the SportsAid 16 for 2016 list she said: “I am delighted to be selected as one of SportsAid’s 16 for 2016 athletes. It gives you a real boost to be recognised and makes me feel like I can really achieve my goal of getting to the Olympics.”

Craig Morris, Women’s Class coach for GB canoeing, said: “Bethan is an integral part of the GB Junior Canoe Slalom team, having graduated from her second year at just 16 and gaining her second team medal going better than 2008 to claim silver at the Junior European Championships.

“She continues to develop at a significant rate and shows the capabilities to go on to greater success in the very near future.”

Beth aims to finish in the top third of the Premier League; to get a Top Ten ranking in J18; to take part in the European Junior Championships in 2011; and to be in the top three for the 2012 Olympic selection.

Beth hit the international scene in 2008 when she won a bronze medal in the K1 canoe slalom women’s team at the Junior European Championships in Slovenia; took gold in the J16 Slalom Championships; was fifth in the J18 international in Slovenia; was third in the J18 Czech international and reached the semi-finals of the J18 World Championships.

In 2009 she won silver in the European Junior Championships; was a member of the GB J18 team; was a member of the England J16 team; and was ranked second J16 British and English paddler. In last year’s GB selection she was first in the J16 and J18 events and at the Pre-Worlds Olympic Hopefuls Race she came sixth in the J16 and 12th in the J18 categories.

She became the youngest competitor ever to represent GB in this demanding sport at international level, racing in the 2008 European and World Junior Championships.

A tough regime sees Beth training every night and most mornings are spent in the gym or on the water. Her school, South Craven, is supporting her efforts by allowing her to train in Nottingham every Wednesday.

Beth received a four-figure sum for a new boat ahead of the new 2009 season from Keighley engineering supplier Horn Cutting Tools. They gave her £1,500 to cover the cost of a custom-built, high technology kayak and paddles.