Student from school in Cornwall selected for Olympic pathway

13-year-old Saffron Knowles has been observed by Team GB over the past year and was chosen due to her fantastic scores during the 2023 Outdoor Season. 

Saffron has shot a number of local and National competitions this year, including the Junior Archery Series. This was a series of National competitions where she shot above her age category in the Under 15’s at a distance of 50m.

Throughout the series, Saffron appeared on the podium at every event – the only competitor in her category to do so. At the Junior Masters Final in Gloucestershire, she was equal first until the final head-to-head where she narrowly missed out on the title by just one point. She also took a new National Record in May of this year, when shooting a Double 122 – 40m with a score of 1209.

Saffron is a pupil at the award-winning Truro High School for Girls (Image: Supplied)

She has been invited to join their prestigious National Performance Pathway, which identifies grassroots talents and prepares athletes to reach their potential as performance archers.    

Cait Leach, Acting Performance Pathway Manager, said: “Saffron is an exceptionally talented archer. She has been invited to the 2023/24 National Age Group Academy, a select group of young athletes on the Archery GB Olympic Pathway”   

The pathway includes a full programme of shooting, strength and conditioning, personal development and attendance at training camps at their national archery performance centre in Shropshire. It is an incredible honour to be chosen for the NPP, and Saffron has her sights on the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. 

Saffron is a pupil at the award-winning Truro High School for Girls where she is a part of the school’s Aspiring Athletes programme which provides mentoring, training and support for those playing sport at high levels.