Shooting for success: Sophie balances Olympic dreams and college life

Sophie Langton, a student on the Access to Higher Education Veterinary Science course at East Sussex College, is proving that dedication can take you far – both in the classroom and on the international stage.

Recently returning from Germany, Sophie proudly represented Great Britain in Shotgun Shooting and came away with a silver medal as part of the women’s team.

“To be selected to represent Great Britain is definitely an honour so it felt great to represent my country at an international level!” Sophie said. “I love the atmosphere at international competitions where the subtle competitiveness between each country is always present. It really pushes me to want to do the best I can for not only my country, but also for myself. I’m happy to say that my two teammates and I placed second in the women’s teams!”

During the competition, Sophie shot a total of 125 clay targets over two days, with shooters from across the world taking part.

“Each competitor shot a total of 125 clay targets over two days of competition. 75 were shot on the first day and 50 were subsequently shot on the second day. Individuals get placed into squads of usually 6 shooters and typically, you will be the only shooter from your country in your squad.

“Therefore, it’s great to shoot with many shots from all over the world! This event was a great learning experience for me, and I definitely took some important notes away from the competition that I will review with my coach/support team so I can continue to better myself as a shooter.”

Sophie is studying Veterinary Science online with East Sussex College and chose the course because of the support and flexibility it offers.

“I chose to study with East Sussex College as I was really interested in the content provided in their Veterinary Science course. Additionally, and essentially, I chose to study with East Sussex College as the course offered here will enable me to gain the exact amount of credits necessary in the right areas to be able to apply for the relevant University courses. The support staff at the College were also very helpful!”

Balancing elite-level training and college work isn’t always easy, but Sophie’s discipline and mindset are key.

“It can sometimes be difficult, but I try my best to manage my time effectively. I try to stay present in the moment with whatever I’m doing so, if at training, I only focus on that and when competing, that is my sole focus. The same is true when I study. I find that compartmentalising is the best method for me.”

Sophie is particularly enjoying diving deeper into biology and chemistry, and exploring her interests in marine life.

“I have really enjoyed researching new areas that I haven’t before explored. Particularly, I really enjoyed completing my academic report required for Unit 5 (Atoms, Bonds and Structure). I found the concepts in this report really interesting. I have also thoroughly enjoyed learning more about some of my favourite animals.

“For example, I am very interested in learning about dolphins (Delphinidae) and it was great to specifically study their skeletal system and relate this to locomotion. The Veterinary Science course offered at East Sussex College has and is continuing to support my goals as my knowledge of biology/animal biology and chemistry is continuing to be expanded and this will only benefit me in the future.”

Looking ahead, Sophie has her sights set high – both in sport and in science

“Regarding shooting, the Olympics are definitely the goal. Of course, between now and the Olympic Games, there are many titles I would love to claim and many events I would love to attend but to compete in an Olympics and to medal is my primary motivation. On the other hand, regarding Veterinary Science, in the future, I would like to work in a veterinary setting and in the not-too-distant future, I would like to apply to University and study a BSc degree, preferably Veterinary Science/Medicine.”

Earlier this month, Sophie also travelled to Italy to compete in the prestigious Italian Green Cup.

“Earlier this month (10th–14th July), I competed in the Italian Green Cup competition in Umbria, Italy. It was my most successful international competition and I was very pleased to shoot a personal best score ex 125. At every competition, the top 6 shooters in each category progress into a final and I’m also pleased to say that I made it into the final at this event. Unfortunately, I didn’t come away with a medal this time, but it was a great experience and I’m looking forward to being in many more finals in the future!”

If you’d like to follow in Sophie’s footsteps, find out more about the College’s Access to HE courses here.