A YOUNG swimmer, formerly of St Matthew's Catholic Primary School in Allerton, has begun a journey towards reaching her ultimate "Olympic dream".

Six year-old Lola Malcolm, who attended swimming lessons at Duck and Dive in Shipley, has been offered a fantastic opportunity to take her career to the next level after impressing in the water throughout her younger years.

The talented swimmer has been offered a place on the Ghyll Royd Sports Scholarship Programme (Ilkley) on the basis of merit, upon Lola spending time at Ghyll Royd to be internally assessed, and she now enjoys weekly swimming at Ilkley Pool with Ghyll Royd School.

Her mum Kristina Bell has been thoroughly impressed with how quickly her daughter has taken to the sport.

She said: "Lola has been in the pool since a couple of months old and she has always seemed one step ahead of the other students, but it's only in the last year we've really seen her come along and begin to excel.

"She absolutely loves being in the water and I know it's a bit of a cliche, but it really is her happy place.

"She's growing up now and she's becoming more aware of what she wants, especially after watching the Olympics. She now knows how far she can take this and she's already really determined to succeed and is now looking up to role models like Adam Peaty (Olympic swimmer).

"She's young so we can't put too much pressure on her, but I'll do my best to support with any of her career choices. I know she is determined to go to the Olympics now she has watched it and seen numerous videos on YouTube.

"I'm so proud of everything she is doing."

Ghyll Royd Headteacher, Mr David Martin added: “We are delighted to have Lola join our School as a Sports Scholar. She has highly impressed myself and the teachers with her positive attitude and approach to all elements of school life.

"Her physical abilities were made clear from her first day during PE and Lola performed very well in our Sports Day in June. We can see her only improving through weekly swimming lessons and access to regular sporting opportunities.”

Her swimming coach, Joel Pitchforth at Duck and Dive in Shipley, added: "Lola has the most exceptional swimming ability for her age that I have encountered in 31 years of my teaching career.

"Lola is perceptive, sharp, articulate and a quick individual with a very high aptitude. She is driven and easily understands and puts in to practice the complex and coordinated movements of swimming.

"Through out the year she has always been an active participant in discussions and always supported her peers often taking the time to pause and help others.

"She is at present six grades higher than expected for her age and is progressing in to the later stages of the British swimming syllabus. I actually have to hold Lola back during her training sessions to adhere to guidelines set by the governing body Swim England in regards to her age."