A North East teenage athlete is preparing to compete in the Scottish National Swimming Championships this weekend, alongside many of the UK's best swimmers.

Katie Noble, 14, from Newcastle, is ranked as one of the fastest 800m and 1500m freestyle swimmers in her age group. She juggles an intensive 18-hour weekly training schedule with her school work in the hope of representing her country in the pool.

A picture of dedication, Katie wakes up at 4:30 am three mornings a week, and balances eight weekly training sessions whilst working towards her GCSEs, which she is undertaking at Dame Allan's Girls School.

This weekend, Katie will be in Edinburgh to compete in the Scottish National Short Course Swimming Championships.

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She said: “It’s a demanding training schedule, but I’m used to the early starts and my family, school and friends are all really supportive of what I’m doing, which helps.

“I love being in the pool; the feeling of swimming fast and being strong in the water is exhilarating. I’m training hard because my dream is to be among the best swimmers in the country.”

Already, Katie ranks in the top five swimmers from the North East at 800m freestyle, and is currently the fastest girl in her age group, in the UK, in the short course 1500m freestyle.

She has worked hard to secure her place on Newcastle Swim Team's Performance Squad, an elite squad for the top swimmers at the city club who compete at regional, national and international levels.

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A sign of her talent and potential, Katie was invited by Swim England Swimming Talent Team to attend the National Age Group Development Programme in Birmingham earlier this year.

She said: “I trained at the Birmingham Aquatic Centre, where the Commonwealth Games swimming took place, with some of the best coaches in the country, so it was an incredible opportunity and really helpful.”

Katie joined Dame Allan’s Schools in 2012 as one of the first reception intake at the Junior School and Nursery on Hunter’s Road. Alongside her GCSE work, Katie enjoys music and is a member of the school orchestra, the Chamber Choir, and the Ceilidh Band.

School Principal Will Scott said: “At her age, the commitment Katie gives is very admirable; she shows incredible drive and determination to be the best she can be in the swimming pool, while also giving 100% to her school life and work. We all wish her the best of luck at the Scottish Championships.”

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