A WEST Kirby girl is preparing to represent Great Britain in Ice Skating at the Youth Olympics in Poland next month.

Katie Powell, 16, is one of just four ice skaters in the country who will be competing in the biggest international sports event for junior sportsmen and women.

The West Kirby Grammar School pupil has already excelled in a number of national and international ice skating competitions including the British National Championship - which she won when she was 12 years old - and the Belgian National Championship.

But the Youth Olympics will be her biggest challenge yet.

With three weeks to go Katie is feeling slightly nervous about making her Olympics debut.

“I’m nervous but really excited about going. I’ve never been to Poland before,” she said.

Katie started ice skating when she was just five years old after falling in love with the sport when she watched Oliver on Ice at Deeside ice rink in North Wales.

“I asked my mum if I could start some lessons and it went from there,” she said. “I love everything about it – the competition and the jumps. But I never thought I’d be competing in the Youth Olympics!”

Katie won her first competition when she was 12 years old and has been travelling the world with her skates every since.

When she is not pulling off difficult moves on the ice she’s studying for her A-Levels at West Kirby Grammar School.

“I don’t know what I want to do when I finish school yet, I’ll just wait and see what happens with the ice skating,” she said. “I’d love to compete in the Olympic Games one day.”

Glenice Robinson, headteacher at West Kirby Grammer School, said it was a joy to see one of her pupils excelling on the international scene.

"We're thrilled that West Kirby is being represented at the Youth Olympics in Poland,” she said.

“Katie has competed in a number of prestigious skating competitions but to represent her country is a huge achievement - she's done very well."

The Youth Olympics starts in Poland on February 14 and finishes on February 21.