A TEENAGE canoeist has been selected for Team GB three years after qualifying at at an elite level.

Richmond student Daisy Cooil overcame the effects of a severe chest infection to be selected for the national junior squad.

She was 14 when she first qualified but was ineligible because she was too young to be part of the British squad.

Now 17, the sixth former will compete for Team GB at the World Championships in Ivrea, Italy, in July and the European Championships in Bratislava in August.

“After waiting all this time, it doesn’t feel real,” said Daisy, of Aske, Richmond.

“I had been so ill in the run up and been off school all week."

Coached by Ian Raspin, she has only been canoeing for the past five years but is already ranked fifth in the country.

“I’m really looking forward to competing for my country."