Water polo star Fleur is bound for Baku
Schoolgirl Fleur Kennedy is about to take the plunge into the Great Britain water polo team.
The 16-year-old starlet will be following in a proud tradition because her family have been making waves in the sport for years with both brother Roger, 21, and 28-year-old sister Elizabeth having already represented GB.
The free scoring centre forward from Newbridge Crescent, Tettenhall, who flew out at the weekend to Azerbaijan where she will make her debut, said: "It is fantastic news and I cannot wait to pull on my GB tracksuit."
She has paid a high price for the honour, missing two GCSE science exams that clash with the tournament - the inaugural European Games, a multi sport event with 6,000 athletes taking part.
Fleur, a pupil at St Edmunds Catholic Academy in Compton Road West, said: "It is disappointing not to be able tot take the exams but I am sitting 11 GCSEs and the chance to represent my country was too good an opportunity to miss.
"I was determined to go. The school understood and have been very helpful."
She took up water polo at the age of 12 and now plays alongside sister Elizabeth in the Warley Wasps team in the Midland Women's League.
The pair were the top two scorers in the league last year with the older woman taking the honours.
Both Roger and Elizabeth represented GB at under-19 level while Fleur was starting for the under-17s at the tournament in Baku, the Azerbaijan capital.
Her brother and sister both still play the sport at a high level.
Dad Gerard, who with wife Margaret, both 52, has five children, said: "Neither of us were swimmers but we took the kids to the pool for lessons when they were young and it took off from there.
"We have put in a fair few miles taking them to training sessions over the years but have always been happy to help and are very proud of all that they have achieved in the sport."
