Having firmly established herself as a dominant force on the British Weightlifting youth scene, 14-year-old Rebekah Tiler has her sights set on the world stage.
Representing GB for the first time at the recent European Youth Championships in Klaipeda, Yorkshire’s Tiler was crowned best female lifter, set new European Under-15 records and secured three gold medals in the over 63kg category.
This year has also seen Tiler join the likes of Commonwealth bronze medallist Zoe Smith on British Weightlifting’s World Class Programme, which is backed by National Lottery funding through UK Sport.
Tiler explained why the funding and support is vital to her career.
She said: "The funding I receive has helped me a great deal and I wouldn't be the athlete I am today without it. I need to travel a lot to training and competitions; I also need regular sport massage, physiotherapy and supplements, which can be very costly.
"Without the funding I get I would find it hard to be such a successful athlete."
Originally a track sprinter, Tiler made the switch to weightlifting aged 11 when her remarkable strength was noticed by a coach at a sprint testing day.
Tiler, who now trains and competes with Mytholmroyd WLC in West Yorkshire, where she is coached by Edward Halstead, proved to be a natural and has encouraged others to give the sport a try.
She said: "Weightlifting helps improves your strength and speed so can be beneficial whatever sport you do. It’s exciting and challenging and it's not always about the amount you lift, it's your technique you must get right. Whatever age you are, you can start lifting and it will be beneficial to you."
The British athletes who achieved such incredible success at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games inspired Tiler and she now wants to replicate them by achieving on the biggest stage of all.
She explained: "They made me believe that one day with hard work and determination maybe I too could compete at an Olympic Games.
"The next big focus for me is next year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and my ultimate goal is to become Olympic and World champion."
You can follow Rebekah Tiler’s progress on the #RoadtoRio and #RoadtoTokyo through the @GBWeightlifting Twitter and Facebook pages, and on Rebekah’s own Twitter profile @rebekahtiler.