A YOUNG pair of talented Bracknell gymnasts will represent Britain on a training trip to Iceland, after being whittled down from over ten applicants.

Katie Potts and James Langley, both 18, from Bracknell Gymnastics Club (BGC) have been selected by British Gymnastics to study coaching techniques as the next generation of TeamGym performance coaches. 

During the trip the duo, who both work as Level 2 coaches for the group based at Bracknell Leisure Centre in Bagshot Road - meaning they can lead classes- will work with Danish national coach and current Icelandic national coach, Henrik Pillgard at the centre in Stjarnan, Iceland.

The aim of the trip is to 'forge a closer working relationship with the Icelandic Federation, to inspire the young coaches and to bring back new ideas and training techniques'. 

Katie and James are also high performance gymnasts, with Katie competing for Reddam Gymnastics Club in Wokingham and James for Bracknell Gymnastics Club. 

Peter Tranckle, BGC manager, said: "Both of them have had a run of bad luck recently.

"James is recovering from an ankle operation and Katie has had an ankle injury so this has been a really big boost for them. 

"We are really really proud of them, they have such potential, we are supporting them 100 per cent.

"Beyond that, they are both really good people and they deserve this; we want to make sure they get the breaks that they should. Nice guys don't always finish first but they do on our watch, that's what we tell them."

Katie is a former The Holt School pupil, while James studied at Brakenhale, before doing an apprenticeship with the club and becoming a full-time coach. 
He is current British champion, which Katie has also been several times in the past.