Britain’s French prepares for World Cup Final debut
3rd June 2014
Britain’s Kate French is looking forward to competing at her first Modern Pentathlon World Cup Final in Sarasota, Florida on Friday (6 June).
The 23-year-old achieved the qualifying standard for the event last year, but was only the fourth best British qualifier. With a maximum of three places per gender nation available, she missed out.
French said she’s looking forward to the competition, although her focus this year is on the European and World Championships.
“I'm really pleased and excited to compete at my first World Cup Final,” she said. “We’re in a hard training block at the moment because the European and World Championships are our main aims this year.
“This will be a good warm-up and I’d be happy with a good, solid performance,” she said.
Jan Bartu, Pentathlon GB Performance Director, said” “It’s fantastic that Kate has the chance to compete at her first World Cup Final. It's another competitive opportunity for her at the top level.
“The World Cup Final hasn’t been our highest priority this season though, and everyone else will keep training and working hard in Bath, getting ready for the European and World Championships.”
French is currently ranked number 14 in the world, making her the highest ranked British woman.
She secured a World Cup Final place with her best World Cup result yet, a sixth in Chengdu, China in April, followed by 18th in Kecskemet, Hungary.
Last year French received one of Pentathlon GB’s two Outstanding Performance of the Year awards after helping Britain to team golds at both the World and European Championships and securing 10th place finishes in the individual competitions at both.
Originally from Meopham near Gravesend in Kent, French trains at the Pentathlon GB National Training Centre at the University of Bath, from where she graduated with a Sports Performance degree last year.
The World Cup Final is a straight final, so French will be in action on Friday only.