An aspiring pentathlete is being fast-tracked to follow in the footsteps of fellow multi-discipline athlete Jessica Ennis-Hill.

Amber Anning from Hove has been selected by Freedom Leisure for its Talented Athlete Support Scheme that helps emerging sporting talent in Sussex.

Inspired by Olympic gold medallist Jessica Ennis-Hill CBE, Amber took up athletics at the age of five and has since excelled to become the highestranked under-13 pentathlete and 60m sprinter in the UK.

In April 2013 she won two national titles in the standing triple jump and the four-lap sprint race at the Sportshall UK Championships. In doing so she broke two Sussex records, both of which were set more than 18 years ago.

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She holds eight Sussex Championship U13 titles including long jump, 60-metre sprint (indoors), 75-metre sprint, high jump and shot put.

Amber said: “I’m so happy to be accepted onto the scheme. I really appreciate the cost savings and free access to all Freedom Leisure sites.

“It will allow me to cross train during the school holidays, at weekends and sometimes in the evenings – which I couldn’t do last year – and means I won't always have to rely on my parents for transport as the King Alfred is nearby.

“Next year is going to be tough for me as I’m moving up to the under-15 category and I’ll be the youngest in my age group, so the extra support is a great boost to my training and confidence.”

After several years of competing in multisport and individual events, Amber decided to try her hand at pentathlon in May 2013.

So far, she has competed in the Saucony Hampshire Multi-Events Championships and the Kent under-13 Pentathlon.

After winning gold at both events she has decided to focus solely on pentathlon going forward and aspires to be selected for team GB at the 2020 Olympic Games.

Amber trains at Freedom Leisure's Withdean Sports Complex and does additional gymtraining at King Alfred as part of her strength and cardio work.

Under the Talented Athlete Support Scheme, Amber will have her membership fee waived and has the option to train at any of the other 33 Freedom Leisure Centres across Sussex, Kent and Surrey.

In addition to athletics, Amber is a member of the Sussex Netball Academy, plays the keyboard and trumpet and studies speech and drama.

Ross Philipson, Freedom Leisure Centre manager at Withdean Sports Complex, said: “Young athletes have great demands on their finances so by offering free membership at Freedom Leisure centres we aim to ease some of Amber's training costs.”

“She's a very talented and inspiring young athlete who always puts in 110% to ensure she achieves her goals: it's our pleasure to accept her onto the scheme.”