Kate Waugh is very much in contention for a slot on Great Britain’s Olympic team next year in Paris after a fantastic second place at WTCS Finals Pontevedra.

Waugh chased home team-mate and new world champion Beth Potter after putting together a terrific performance in Spain.

For the 24-year-old prodigy, this ground-breaking result came less than a year after her win at the World U23 Championship in Abu Dhabi, with her meteoric rise to the top a testament to hard work and the willingness to make a bold move.

After taking a gamble and leaving the UK with boyfriend Max Stapley to join the Monte Gordo-based training group under the guidance of Portuguese Paulo Sousa, her boldness was paid off in full on Sunday.

A culmination of hard work

Waugh, who was finishing on her first WTCS podium having only made her debut on the top-tier circuit two years ago, admitted afterwards: “I like to think it has been a long time coming, I have been training really well and my confidence has been increasing over the season, but I am a little speechless.”

Kate, who since the start of the year has been training alongside the likes of American star Taylor Spivey and Olympians Miriam Casillas Garcia and Yuko Takahashi, heralded her support network this year.

“It has all happened so quickly, it is definitely the best season of my career and I am so grateful to my coach Paulo [Sousa] and all my support network, because I wouldn’t be here without them.” 

Now putting herself in the driver’s seat for Paris selection, Waugh revealed that the Olympic Games have been a goal since her win in Abu Dhabi last year, and something she will pursue until the very end.

“I hope I can go, I told myself after the World U23 Championships that I was not going to give up on the dream and fully commit myself to Paris, and that is what I have been doing and I’ll fight until it’s over.”