CONSISTENCY is the name of the game for Anna McGorum as the cross-country mountain biker targets a place at this year’s World Championships.

As a Peebles native the 18-year-old doesn’t have to look too far for inspiration at the home of mountain biking in Scotland, hooked ever since taking to the saddle more than a decade ago.

Enthusiasm was never in doubt but now the talented teenager has shown she has the class to match it, representing Team GB in last summer’s Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires.

It was a moment that opened McGorum’s eyes in the world of elite sport – and now she wants to do it all again.

“It was such an amazing experience to meet all the other GB athletes and competing for my country, and being in the Olympic village was really fun as well,” said the former Peebles High School student.

“It really motivated me to keep trying hard and train every day.

“My main goal is to be selected for the World Championships in Canada this year – it would be really cool to go and compete against the best in the world.

“In the future, I think the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022 is definitely a realistic goal.

“I just need to keep being consistent – I think I’ve got a pretty good chance of going to the World Championships.

“I also have a big block of racing in Europe coming up soon, lots of World Cups and then the World Championships as the last race of the season and the biggest one.”

McGorum was speaking at a SportsAid workshop being hosted in partnership with GVC – the multi-national sports betting and gaming group – at the Lee Valley VeloPark in London.

GVC are supporting 50 athletes across 33 sports, with each one receiving a financial award and personal development opportunities through SportsAid, including support around nutrition, mentoring and media training.

Olympian Leon Taylor and Paralympian Millie Knight, who are both SportsAid alumni, were also on hand at the workshop to share their experiences of elite level sport.

And Taylor, who delivered a mentoring session, said: “I’ve been involved with SportsAid for many years as an ambassador and it started when I received a SportsAid award as a young athlete.

“I really know how much of a difference getting that recognition can make. I’m supporting the cause now as a retired athlete because I know what the journey is like.”

GVC is proud to be championing the next generation of British sporting heroes by providing talented young athletes with financial support and personal development opportunities in partnership with SportsAid. Visit gvc-plc.com to find out more.