Hudson has Paris on her mind ahead of the IBSA World Games
Goalball star Chelsea Hudson is brushing up on her French skills ahead of the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
The 18-year-old from Bridlington was recently named in the British Goalball squad for the upcoming IBSA World Games in Birmingham, where victory would seal the team a spot on the plane to Paris.
And with Hudson currently studying for her French A-Level, the 2022 Young Sports Personality of the Year nominee is hoping the practice will pay off next summer.
"The World Games will be my first major at a senior level so I'm really excited to get that experience," she said.
"But the main goal of the team is to enjoy ourselves and to qualify for the Paralympics, which would happen if we win.
Stuart Pearce swapped the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona for the Alfred Davis Memorial Ground for Non-League Day 🙌
The England legend returned to his non-league roots with a visit to @MarlowFC
Check out how he got on 👇 pic.twitter.com/FqsMsR0m8i— Pitching In (@PitchingIn_) March 30, 2023
"Only eight teams qualify for Paris and they have to come from different events, so we have the World Games and then the Euros in December as our chances.
"It's everyone's dream to go to the Paralympic Games, and it has been mine since I was 10.
"It has always felt like a dream before but now it's more of a chance. We have two chances to actually get there so it's very exciting.
"We're very friendly with the French team as well, they quite like the fact that I can speak French now and keep speaking back to them.”
The Paris 2024 hopeful has had a busy year so far, with the goalball season in full swing.
Congratulations to our athletes who have been selected to represent Great Britain at the @IBSAGames2023 next month!🙌🇬🇧
The Games are the biggest #goalball event to be held in the UK since London 2012!
Get ready to support our teams as they play for a chance to qualify for the… pic.twitter.com/uBULS9Nwj0— Goalball UK (@GoalballUK) July 18, 2023
The Northern All Stars player helped her team to domestic success in both the Super League and the Intermediate League before clinching a second-place finish at the Goalfix Cup at the University of Worcester.
“I got player of the weekend and top goal scorer at the Goalfix Cup, which was cool,” added
"That was a really good weekend. Internationally, I went to Sweden to compete in the Malmo Lady Intercup as well.
"But the Goalfix Cup was my highlight as it was my first ever and it was such a good competition.
"Even though we lost in the final, we played really well."
Entain, owner of Ladbrokes and Coral, is proud to be championing the next generation of British sporting heroes by providing talented young athletes with financial support and personal development opportunities in partnership with SportsAid. Visit entaingroup.com to find out more
