Reid ready to make London bow in bid to reach World Championships

PARALYMPIC bronze medallist Stefanie Reid will compete in the capital of her newly-adopted country for the first time next month when she bids to book her place at next years World Championships.

HOME BOW: Stefanie Reid is set to make her bow in the British capital at Crystal Palace next month

Reid, who captured 200m bronze at Beijing 2008 when representing Canada, switched allegiances to Great Britain at the turn of the year courtesy of both her parents being British.

London has become a second home to the Dallas-based athlete, having joined forces with renowned coach Dan Pfaff at the Lee Valley High Performance centre.

And while she has already achieved the World Championships ‘A' qualification standard in the long jump, thanks to a leap of 4.85m in May, Reid will be desperate to confirm her spot in both the 100m and 200m in Crystal Palace on August 15 at the 2010 UK Disability Athletics Challenge Series.

"I PB'd over 100m in Canada earlier this month so I know I'm in good shape, but time is running out to achieve those standards so the pressure is really on me to perform at Crystal Palace," she said.

"2011 be my second World Championships and I can't wait to get out there. I've enjoyed medal success with my third place finish in Beijing, but I want to build on that and experience what it feels like to stand on the top of the podium.

 "I grew up in Canada but my roots are in Great Britain and I'm really proud of my heritage.

"My dad's Scottish and my mum is English and they took every chance to remind me how great both countries were - they're proud of where they're from and that pride has filtered through to me. It'll be an honour to represent GB on home soil in 2012."

The IPC World Championships are scheduled for January 2011 in Christchurch, New Zealand - the country of Reid's birth.