A STUDENT from Nantwich has been chosen to help British athletes go for gold at London 2012.

Yana Radcliffe, a former Malbank School pupil, will capture footage from various events so it can be scrutinised Team GB coaches, in a bid to give the national side a sporting advantage.

The 21-year-old, who studies Sports and Exercise Sciences at the University of Chester, will be part of Team GB’s Performance Analysis Capture Service Team.

The black belt kick boxer, who is currently finishing her exams, will be based in Team GB headquarters for the duration of the Olympiad, where she will study competitors in the taekwondo, wrestling, boxing, fencing, archery and weight lifting events.

Yana’s connection to the Olympic squad began in October, when she was put forward by Chester University lecturer, Dr Paul Worsfold, for a placement offered by the English Institute of Sport.

The placement saw Yana working with the GB Taekwondo team’s performance analysts.

Yana, who is also a health and fitness advisor for Cheshire East Council, studied rule changes in the sport, which awarded more points to fighters completing more complex techniques, involving spins and jumps.

Her findings were presented to Team GB Taekwondo performance analysts and coaches, who used Yana’s data to create a more efficient method for training.

Her hard work helped British athletes achieve a record number of medals at the Taekwondo European Championships, held in Manchester in May.

Of her forthcoming Olympic experience, Yana said: “It’s such an incredible opportunity, and though I have worked really hard towards this, I still can’t believe it – it will be amazing.”