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ESIS - Edinburgh's Rose Andersen to captain GB under 20 team
Edinburgh basketballer Rose Anderson, whose overriding ambition is to compete in the London 2012 Olympics, took another step towards that goal this month after being asked to captain Great Britain's under 20 team.
I'm over the moon, said the Portobello 20 year old. I feel privileged to be representing Scotland and Great Britain so to be made captain of the team is a big honour.
Anderson, the younger sister of Commonwealth Games champion boxer Kenny, was asked to take on the role during a recent tour in Amsterdam. She accepted without hesitation and is taking to it well.
It comes quite naturally to me when it comes to taking responsibility and doing things like keeping everybody motivated and I feel I'm doing well, she said in Aldershot this week, cramming in three daily training sessions before heading overseas to train and compete.
We're going to France on Friday and after that we have a tournament in Poland, she said. Then I'm back to the States in August so this is good pre season work for me. I'll be in good shape by the time I go over there.
In August she will take a place at University of Central Oklahoma. As a former student of Oklahoma Junior College, Rose is quite used to the set up in America.
Despite being relatively short for a top basketball player, she makes up for it in other ways. I'm quite I'm only 5'9 but I've got plenty of power and aggression, she says with a wry smile.
It's a big sport over there and you get to practise and get in the gym every day. Here in Scotland it's very difficult because it isn't a major sport.
This is no hint of criticism of the Scottish basketball world which she entered when she was in Primary six. She speaks fondly of all her former coaches.
I started at primary school and a lot of people have helped me and kept me focussed, says Rose, a long term member of City of Edinburgh Kool Kats. "Donna Finnie, Scotland U18 coach and Brian Findlay, who was my club coach for many years."
Latterly, with the East of Scotland Institute of Sport taking on basketball as a new sport and supporting her as one of its first players, she has had unlimited access to a wide range of essential support services including sports medicine, sports science, strength and conditioning, and career and lifestyle guidance.
ESIS has been a brilliant help, she added. I had ankle trouble and they gave me help with loads of exercises and physio. It's good to have it there especially being free because it can be so expensive to get treatment.
With just one year left before she moves up to senior level it seems all the pieces are fitting in at the right time.
The under 20 team is preparation for the senior GB team, she adds. My plan is to make the senior GB team for the Olympics in 2012.