Young fencer’s joy of carrying Olympic Torch

Published on 02/07/2012 02:08

A YOUNG fencer with her eye on competing for Britain carried the Olympic Torch to a medieval castle as it continued its journey across the UK.

Nearly 3,000 family, friends and members of the public watched Chloe Pahnke as she passed the torch to Georgina Harland at the gate of Warwick Castle.

The schoolgirl, from Coventry, said: “To start with I was really nervous, but then when I was actually carrying it, it was amazing. I still can’t believe it.”

The 12-year-old, who has been fencing for two years, is training to take part in the next Olympics: “My dream is to get a gold medal in the Olympics. I train every week. I want to take part as it’s an event that brings everyone together.”

She passed the torch to Ms Harland. The 34-year-old from Bath won the bronze in the Modern Pentathlon in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

The torch had earlier passed by Shakespeare’s birthplace at Stratford upon Avon.