PLYMOUTH taekwondo starlet Beth Worthington, a finalist for The Herald's 2011 Young Sports Personality of the Year award, is in full training ahead of next month's qualifier for the World Junior Championships.

The 14-year-old is hoping to build on her success in 2011, which included bronze medals at the European Junior Championships and Commonwealth Junior Championships.

She said: "My main ambition for 2012 is to compete and win a medal at the Worlds' in Egypt, which takes place in April.

"I'm going to Paris in around three weeks to compete in the Junior World Championship qualifiers, so I am in full preparation for that. I am hoping to do well. It's exciting to be going to a city such as Paris."

And Worthington is not alone in trying to mark her mark in taekwondo. Both her parents have taken part in the sport and her 12-year-old brother Jack is the current British champion in the cadet male 33kg category.

The Plymstock School student told Herald Sport: "I've always looked up to my parents and they have always done taekwondo so that is how I got into it, although my mum doesn't take part anymore.

"I got into it when I was six, and my brother Jack, started when he was five and is doing really well."

Asked if she found training with her family difficult she replied: "When I'm at home my dad will help me out with any extra training I need, it's nice to train with them because I am really close to my family and we all enjoy taekwondo."

Worthington, who is a member of South Hams Taekwondo Club, will not be competing at next year's London Olympics, but believes the experience of training with athletes who will represent Team GB will stand her in good stead for the future.

She said: "I've trained with some of the team who will be going to London 2012. It was really good to get that experience, to train with people at that level. If I'm training with people at that level already it can only be a good thing.

"They gave me advice and help with certain things so it was a good experience."

Her father, Dave, believes Beth has started to realise she has the potential to be a success and achieve her goal of competing at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janerio.

Worthington senior said: "I think the fact that Beth knows some of the athletes who will be competing in London 2012 is a major thing, they are inspirational to her.

"She has begun to realise that if she works hard it could be her in a few years' time competing in major competitions. She is starting to realise what she can achieve."

Worthington senior says supporting his daughter's sporting ambitions is a huge commitment, and does not come without sacrifice.

He said: "I'm proud of all her achievements, no matter how big or small. I was immensely proud in Cyprus (at the European Junior Championships) when she claimed a bronze.

"We always travel to regular competitions and around Europe to different events, so you definitely have to be committed

"There is also the financial commitment, travelling around Europe for various competitions is expensive and I have to take time off work, but it's all worth it in the end when we see her on the podium."