LUCIE Colebeck says she feels ‘totally blessed’ at becoming British Gymastics’ Outstanding Athlete of the Year.

The 20-year-old Pinewood Gymnastics Club star was honoured in the ‘Non-Olympic category’ for her achievements during 2015 which included a World Championship silver medal.

And after collecting her trophy at the British Gymnastics national awards ceremony in Leicester, the talented tumbler beamed: “It was a huge honour to have received the Non Olympic Outstanding athlete of the year award.

“I feel totally blessed and want to thank everyone who was involved in my 2015.”

However, Binfield resident Colebeck admitted last year did not get off to the best of starts.

“It was a very rough year for me and I was not expected to do as well as I did given all the things I was struggling with in certain elements in training,” she explained.

“I went from not competing one of my passes in September to getting the silver individual medal at the World Championships two months later which was a massive achievement for me.”

Colebeck, who joined Pinewood aged five, combines her extensive training under coach Vladimir Podobin with working in local schools including Ludgrove in Wokingham.

She also helped Team GB gymnasts prepare for the Rio 2016 Games, although she was unable to compete as tumbling is not yet an Olympic sport.

The former St Crispin’s School pupil added:  “I am so overwhelmed with how my year went and to be recognised for my hard work is incredible.

“A huge thanks go to British Gymnastics, my national coaches and my personal coach, Vladimir Podobin.”

Max Whitlock, who won two gold medals in Rio, was named Outstanding Athlete of the Year in the Olympic category at the national awards ceremony.