HILPERTON can boast two Olympians this summer after Danny Talbot and Francesca Fox both had their places at London 2012 confirmed this week.
Former St Augustine’s College student Talbot, 21, capped a memorable few days in which he also claimed his first senior international outdoor medal at the European Championships by being selected for Britain’s men’s 4x100m relay squad.
Meanwhile, ex- Matravers School student Fox, 20, had her place rubberstamped as she and five colleagues from the Bath-based rhythmic group were confirmed as the home representatives in the team event at Wembley Arena next month.
Talbot, of Lacock Gardens, stormed to a bronze medal in the 200m at the Europeans in Helsinki last Saturday, and said: “I feel amazing and literally haven’t stopped smiling since I got the phone call (on Tuesday). It’s crazy.
“It was always a hope at the beginning of the year but I had so many injuries building up to the UK Trials, which didn’t go so well.
“But I was lucky enough to go the Europeans and get a bronze medal in my first senior championships. From that moment, I thought I had a good chance of making the team.
“I’ve had to plan exactly where I’m going to be in the next few weeks for the anti-doping people, which is obviously a bit strange, and then I’ve got to go and get my kit (on July 22)and plan when I’m next going to race.
“It’s hard to thank everyone for the ‘well done’ messages.
“My phone hasn’t stopped going off and my Facebook page has gone crazy. But it’s really nice to know that everyone’s happy that I made it.’’
The selection of Fox, who lives on Wyke Road, ended a dramatic few months that saw her self-funded rhythmic group lodge an appeal after British Gymnastics had initially refused to nominate them for an Olympic place.
She said: “It just feels absolutely amazing right now.
“Things don’t feel too much different but at the same time, everything is so much more real.
“I think it’s started to hit me how close it is and we don’t really know what to expect, so it’s a bit of excitement and nerves for all of us at the moment.
“We’re all really happy though.’’
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