A promising county gymnast is set to head to America after being selected for the Great Britain Junior team for the World Age Group Championships, along with her coach, who teaches at Knox Academy.

Caitlin O’Brien, who trains at Meadowmill Sports Centre with the Edinburgh Trampoline Club, is the only gymnast from a Scottish club selected for either the senior or junior trampoline or DMT (double-mini trampoline) teams for the event in Florida next month.

Not only is Caitlin the only Scottish gymnast to be selected for the team, she is also the first from her club, City of Edinburgh Trampoline Club, to be selected for a Great Britain squad.

And Caitlin, a pupil of George Watson’s School in the Capital, was understandably thrilled by her selection.

She took to social media site Twitter to express her joy at being selected, and said: “Still can’t believe I’ve been selected to go to World Championships in Florida for team GB.” Messages of support have been pouring in for the 16-year-old from friends and family since the announcement of her selection earlier this month.

Scottish Gymnastics were delighted by her achievements, as they took to social media site Twitter.

They tweeted: “Congratulations to CETC’s Caitlin O’Brien and her coach Lauren Jeffrey who will represent GBR in the World Age Group Champs next month.” Meanwhile, Knox Academy teacher Lauren Jeffrey will also be travelling to the event, having been selected as a junior DMT coach for the Great Britain team.

And CETC senior coach Kayleigh Jeffrey, Lauren’s sister, was delighted with Caitlin’s achievements.

She told Courier Sport: “I am extremely proud of Caitlin being selected for the GB Junior DMT Squad. It is a massive achievement for her, and shows that all the hard work put in by herself, and her coaches, has paid off.

“Caitlin is a very talented girl, and very determined to do well. She has already achieved so much, and will continue to do so. With the support of team-mates, coaches and her parents, Caitlin is going from strength to strength and has many exciting opportunities ahead of her.” Selection for the squad represents continued recognition for the pair, who were among those honoured at the East Lothian Council Celebrating Sport Awards earlier this month.

Caitlin was nominated for the Young Sports Person of the Year award, while Lauren was among the nominees for the Performance Coach of the Year accolade.

And the duo will now travel to the National Sports Centre at Lilleshall in Shropshire for residential training and preparation camps, before making the 4,000-mile trip to America next month.