A FORMER pupil of Auchenharvie Academy is about to take on the challenge of her sporting career.

Sandra Walsh, from Stevenston, is putting the Team Scotland Gymnastics squad through their final preparations for Glasgow 2014 at the Hydro.

Sandra, 30, took up gymastics aged 10 at the St Andrew’s School club and immediately fell in love with a sport that would eventually become her life and her career.

She moved on to clubs in Largs and Glasgow and kept training through her studies in Mathematics at Glasgow University specialising in the Women’s Artistic disciplines – representing Scotland on many occasions.

On graduating, Sandra decided her passion for gymnastics was too great to leave it behind so embarked on a Masters degree in Sports Studies at Stirling University.

She began coaching while at Glasgow University taking on youngsters aged five – and remarkably it is these same athletes that make up her Team Scotland squad for Glasgow 2014.

Sandra said: “Because I’ve been with these athletes from the start of their gymnastic careers it is amazing to see them complete this journey.

“They have been working really hard and if they keep going the way they have been we are in with a good chance of medals.” Sandra sees England and Canada as their main rivals.

“If we compete to our full potential we will do very well.” Out of all the Team Scotland coaches, Sandra is the youngest.

She said: “Being so young, it’s really great to have this accolade so early in my career.”