A TYLERS Green teenager has just won four medals at the National Age Group Diving Championships in Southampton – but it’s just the latest chapter in an incredible story.

Competing against some of the best junior divers in the country in Southampton last weekend, 13-year-old Emily Moses won two golds, a silver and a bronze.

By any standards it’s a fantastic success, but Moses has only been in the sport for 18 months and in that time has made unprecedented progress.

Last year, after just eight months diving, she was selected for the England Diving Development Squad (Southern Region) and is now part of the Gifted and Talented scheme aimed at preparing Olympic-standard athletes.

Apart from school and regions victories, she won the National Skills Level 2 in April and she followed that up with her Level 3 triumphs last weekend.

However, her development does not come without a price and the training schedule she follows is enough to scare off anyone not 100 per cent dedicated.

Two evenings a week she has to travel to the Crystal Palace Diving Club, which is run by ex world champion Chris Snode, to train under specially recruited elite Chinese coaches.

She has also been given special clearance from Holmer Green Senior School to swap lessons for all-day training at Crystal Palace on Friday, and she is back in South London on Saturday and Sunday as well – sometimes leaving home as early as 6am.

In total, 25 hours each week are spent training with almost the same amount again commuting to and from sessions.

It’s gruelling, but ever since the former gymnast started diving on a family holiday in Cyprus two years ago she has been hooked.

She said: “I miss going out to town with my friends and I have to miss some parties too, but I do it because I’m committed to my sport and I enjoy doing it.”

And Snode, who first spotted her at a diving assessment in September 2008 when she was one of six divers picked out of 1000s of hopefuls, believes her efforts will pay off.

He said: “Emily has all of the attributes to be a champion. She competes well, works hard and is fearless.

“She is now part of the Gifted and Talented scheme and is in preparation to try for a place in next year’s junior European Team.”

It’s a rosy future, and Moses says striving for it is worth the greatest sacrifice a 13-year-old girl can make – her hair.

It was long and brown when she started diving but is now short and blonde due to the constant exposure to chlorine.

She said: “I’d love to have long hair again.”

* Pool fees and coaching fees cost more than £200 a month, and with travelling expenses and competition fees/accommodation, Emily’s parents, Kevin and Jane Moses spend in excess of £5,000 per year on diving. Anyone interested in sponsoring them can email kmoses572009656@aol.com.