A young athlete from Kent is off to the Olympics.

Erin McNeice from Sittingbourne will be representing her country on Team GB’s bouldering squad.

The former Fulston Manor student secured her place in the tournament after coming third at the finals of the Olympic Qualifying Series in Budapest.

She was offered a place on Team GB in 2022, becoming the youngest member at just 17.

She said: “I actually dropped my phone on the floor with excitement.

"I rang mum straight away but couldn’t understand what she was saying as she wasn’t particularly coherent amongst the screams of joy.”

After making the podium in the opening qualifying series round in Shanghai last month, all eyes were on Erin.

The 20-year-old had a steady start to the Budapest leg of the competition, finishing 16th in the boulder phase of qualification last Thursday (June 20).

Competitive climbing made its debut as an Olympic sport at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

The event puts three types together – speed climbing, lead climbing and bouldering.

In speed climbing it is a straight race between athletes to reach the top first.

In bouldering, athletes each get four minutes to reach the top of four boulders with their number of attempts influencing their final score.

For lead climbing the competitor who reaches the highest spot triumphs.

Erin told KentOnline she took up the sport after being inspired by her dad, who began climbing as a hobby at university.

"I got into it when my dad brought me to a climbing gym. I was very small and very light, so I could impress people - I liked it because I got attention,” she explained.

"I also wanted to beat my older brother at something, but then when it started getting harder, I started getting scared because of the height.

"But after moving to Malaysia and coming back to England when I was 12, I started to find my love and passion for it again.

"I just fell in love with it and then I found out about the opportunities it could give me and started training really hard for it."

The Kent athlete studied biology, sport and psychology for her A-Levels at Fulston Manor in Brenchley Road.

Lee Gardner, head of PE said: "I personally remember Erin beating all of the Year 11 boys at a strength test and I think it was then that I knew the Olympics were truly calling.

“Quiet and humble, Erin is an immensely gifted and dedicated sportswoman and represented Fulston in football, athletics and table tennis during her time with us.

“We will all be Team Erin and glued to our TVs this summer. We wish her every ounce of luck and hope that she will come back to Fulston to show us her medal.”

Susie Burden, executive head teacher of Fulston Manor Academy Trust added: "We remember Erin's determination as if it was yesterday.

“Her dedication to a sport she was so clearly passionate about, never wavered.

“Even throughout exam periods Erin would train as though her life depended on it but always found time to revise.

“She is an amazing young woman and we are just so proud of her achievements and we will be watching her realise her dream in Paris.”

Erin improved round-by-round in Budapest – finishing the semi-finals in 5th place.

She stepped up again in the finals and took home a bronze medal.

“It was pretty indescribable,” Erin said.

“To qualify for an Olympic ticket felt incredible and to get my second podium made it even more special.

“I can’t wait to compete at the Paris Olympics, and I’m looking forward to sharing the experience with my teammates and the coaches.”

Rachel Carr, GB Climbing head of delegation and McNeice’s coach added: “This round was a bit more challenging for Erin with the heat and forced us to do a lot of adapting but she managed to keep the faith in her ability and demonstrate that she is in fact a fully-fledged combined athlete.

“[The competition has had] its ups and downs but getting another bronze as well as qualifying for an Olympic quota has been a dream come true for us all.”

Erin joins teammates Hamish McArthur, Molly Thompson-Smith and Toby Roberts.

All of them will be heading to Le Bourget Sport Climbing Venue in around six weeks.

The only previous athlete to compete in this sport at the Olympics was Team GB’s Shauna Coxsey, who placed 10th at Tokyo 2020.