TWO rising gymnastic stars fulfilled their dreams by competing for their country and bagging a silver medal to boot.

Mia Scott and Leah Greenland, who train with South Durham Gymnastics, at The Pink Gym, in Spennymoor, made their debut for Great Britain’s Junior Team at the Rushmoor Rosebowl Competition, in Aldershot, on Saturday.

Fighting it out in a team of five, the young teens competed on all four pieces of apparatus including vault, bars, beam and floor.

Head coach, Nicola Preston, said the girls had done extremely well to gain their places on the team and were some of the youngest - with Mia aged14 and Leah aged just 13.

She added: "The girls did amazingly. It was a brilliant first international for them which hopefully gave them lots of confidence and great experience for the future."

The youngsters spend 24 hours in training every week, at the gym that trained Olympic medallist Amy Tinkler, and were also supported at the weekend by head coach Rachael Wright, who led the team.

Ms Preston previously said: “It’s a big thing for them and they are very young juniors so it’s just fantastic and shows all their hard work.”

Mia, of Shildon, who attends St John’s School and Sixth Form College, qualified for a bars final with one of the highest scores in the competition.

Ms Preston added: "Mia competed on Sunday and finished in 8th position. It was a really big field of juniors and seniors so just to make a final is fantastic."

Last week Mia said: “I was so shocked and overwhelmed that both me and Leah were selected to be a part of such an amazing team and represent Great Britain for the first time.

“I would like to thank my friends, family, school and the whole of South Durham gymnastics for making this amazing experience possible.”

Leah, of Spennymoor, a pupil at Whitworth Park School, said: “When I was told that I was going to be representing Great Britain at my first ever international I was speechless.

"I would like to thank everyone who was involved in enabling me to achieve one of my biggest goals."