COURTNEY Dean will never forget her 16th birthday. Lifting the Warrington Young Sports Personality of 2010 crown on Friday night was a fitting way to celebrate her outstanding year in the water as well as her special celebration.
July and August were great months, too, helping the Great Britain youth water polo team finish seventh in the European Championships, before swimming the English Channel as part of a Warrington Dolphins relay team.
Courtney, of Derwent Road, said: “Going to the Ukraine for the European Championships and competing against all the big teams was good. Seventh place was the highest that Britain has ever finished so that was a good achievement.
“Swimming the channel was a good experience, too, although I was sea sick on the boat. We set off at midnight and swimming two hour-long sessions in pitch black was horrible.”
Perhaps her talent in the water could have been expected considering the family pedigree.
Her brother, Connor, was also a member of the Channel relay team and played water polo before starting university studies.
Courtney added: “My mum (Fiona) used to be a swimming teacher and a lifeguard, while my aunt Kay does aquafit sessions and teaches children to swim.”
She has worked hard to get to the levels she has reached.
Water sport takes up a lot of Courtney’s spare time, competing in matches all around the country with City of Manchester’s A team in the national league, while there were training camps in France, Germany and across the UK in preparation for the European Championships.
“It does take up most of my life,” said Courtney, who first started water polo with Warrington Swimming Club six years ago and still trains there as well as four sessions a week in Manchester.
“Most of my school holidays last week were spent training at Crystal Palace and then there were three matches at the weekend.
“This award means a lot to me because I’ve given up quite a lot for my sport – such as going to parties with friends.
“I was going to have a party for my birthday before the invite came to the awards.
“Hopefully, I’ll have a party next week if my mum lets me.”
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