A TEENAGE rower from York has been selected to compete for Great Britain at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships later this month.

Lucy Edmunds, 19, is one of 50 athletes who have been chosen to represent their country at the championships in Sarasota, Florida.

She will row as part of the women’s eight at the event. This marks her fifth call-up to represent her country, having previously competed as a junior rower for GB, including at the World Rowing Junior Championships in Trakai, Lithuania, two years ago, where she narrowly missed out on a bronze medal in the women’s quadruple scull.

A former pupil of Huntington School and an honorary life member of York City Rowing Club, Edmunds has just completed her first year at Yale University in the United States, where she is a member of the Yale Women’s Crew.

She competed throughout her first year in the University’s Second Varsity Eight boat, including at the Ivy League Championships in New Jersey, winning a bronze medal, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s national championships in Indianapolis.

Since returning to the UK, Edmunds has been training with the GB U23 squad in the Thames Valley and underwent a final selection process to be included in the team at GB Rowing’s headquarters in Caversham.

She said: “I’m absolutely delighted and honoured to represent my country once again. I’m thrilled to have managed to make the U23 team at the first attempt and can’t wait to compete on the world stage in Florida.

“I’m grateful to my coaches and team-mates at Yale, who have really pushed me on to the next level, and for the continuing support of York City Rowing Club and my coach there Phil Jones.

“I’m also grateful for the funding provided by UK Sport to help support me.”

The World Rowing U23 Championships take place in Sarasota, Florida, from July 24 to 28. Almost 700 rowers from 53 countries will compete at the event.