futur OLYMPICS es❵
F
our years ago Louise Jukes gave up her job and home to follow her dream: to represent her country at the 2012 Olympics. Her gamble paid off when she entered the talent identification scheme in 2007 and was chosen by Sir Steve Redgrave to play in the Great Britain women’s Handball team. “It was hard to give up my job, friends and family but I’d always wanted this life as a professional athlete,” said Louise. The scouts were looking for accomplished sports- women, particularly with Great Britain minus a Handball team for the Olympics. “They were looking for talented and tall women to play in minority sports, but I was spotted for my sporting history - I’d played for hockey England U18s – not my height as I’m a mere 169cms,” Louise explains.
In 2008 Louise moved to Denmark to be part of
the World Class Handball Programme and train as an athlete full time with her head coach at a handball academy. “We got straight into training, twice a day. The way you eat, the way you think and working on speed, technique – everything you can think of.” After a year Louise moved to Norway to play for a club side for two seasons, narrowly missing out on promotion to the first division. Now based in Crystal Palace, Louise has racked up 35 caps for Team GB. “First we started playing against the lesser nations, now we’re playing some of the best, even the Olympic champions, and beating them, so it’s a good test of our ability.”
Louise would never have predicted her Olympic hopes would come true five years ago, when she studied physiotherapy at the University of Hertfordshire and lived in Hitchin, saying, “It’s pretty scary how fast it’s all happening, but it’s really exciting.” Now she can’t wait for the first game, the day after the opening ceremony. She said: “We’ve got to use our home advantage, and having the home crowd will make a massive difference. It’ll be good to show our families what we’ve been doing and showcase the sport.”
Last year Louise was a finalist for Suffolk’s Sport Personality of the Year for the work she does to encourage participation in the sport and its development. “With the Olympics coming to London it’s given handball a chance. Now we can spring board into schools, maybe have a professional league. That is what I would like. “The Olympics is a great platform, I could play for a team abroad. I’m also interested in marketing and sponsorship – maybe a new career! But first I’m looking forward to my time off.” With the opportunities ahead of Louise it sounds like 2012, and the years ahead, will be anything but quiet. Jo-Anne Rowney
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