Local Judo star wins Olympic place

Sophie Cox has had her place on the British Olympic judo team for 2012 confirmed. The 30-year-old took gold in the under 52 kg category at the British Open; the final win that the British Judo Association needed to ensure Sophie would be the choice for the games this summer.

Sophie, from Rochdale, represented Great Britain at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, but retired from the sport soon after. She spent several years in Thailand teaching, but the lure of an Olympics on home soil was enough to bring her out of retirement.

Less than two years ago Sophie impressed everyone by shooting straight to number one in her weight category - beating competitors who had been on the international circuit for the last few years.

"I'm so excited to be on the team" said Sophie. "It's one thing to go to the Olympics, but it will be something else to be able to do it in London this summer, it's every British athlete's dream".

Cox is sponsored by international satellite provider Wide Network Solutions. Peter Harrison, CEO of Wide Network Solutions. said: "Sophie is an incredibly determined young woman, and today's news is what we've all been waiting for."