Melissa Lock

Sports Award

Age:

23

Biography

Melissa is 18 years old, from Thurmaston, Leicester and learnt to wakeboard at the age of 6, having learnt to water ski at the age of 2. Currently, she has 7 national titles and also attends other events in the UK, such as the Ryan Birch Memorial Competition and a new national ranking competition called The Wake Open.

JHMT's Support

In 2013, Melissa was picked for the GB squad for the first time (aged 11). Every year since then, she has gone to the Europeans, gradually working her way up the rankings. Then, in August 2017, she came 3^rd at the

European and African Championships in the Junior Women category for under 19s (aged 16). Unfortunately, a few weeks later, Melissa discovered her ankle was broken, and wasn't sure how this would affect her riding. Then in 2018, the European and African Championships were held in the scenic backdrop of Rieti in Italy. Despite knowing she had not had as much training as she would have liked, due to issues with her ankle until April 2018, Melissa came away with 3^rd, in a very close final with only 12 points between 1^st and 5^th.

In addition to her own training, Melissa enjoys coaching other young athletes at her local club: Charnwood Waterski and Wakeboard Club in Watermead Park, Thurmaston. In 2017, she qualified as a UKCC Level 2 Water Ski and Wakeboard coach, and has been volunteering at the club ever since.

Simon Taylor, Inspire Lead, said: ' One of the ways in which JHMT can make a difference is to support inspirational young people who are making a name for themselves in areas where funding is not otherwise available . We are delighted to support Melissa and wish her every success.