13-year-old schoolgirl breaks water-skiing world record

Charlotte Wharton, a British schoolgirl, has broken a 20-year-old water-skiing world record by leaping nearly 100ft - at the age of 13.

Charlotte Wharton's record leap of 98.7ft (30.1m) broke the previous for her age group set in 1989 of 88ft (26.9m) by 10 feet. Photo: MASONS

The youngster, who started skiing just two years ago, soared nearly 50ft in the air at 30mph as she jumped the equivalent of three double decker buses.

Her record leap of 98.7ft (30.1m) broke the previous for her age group set in 1989 of 88ft (26.9m) by 10 feet.

She managed to break it three times in a single day at the recent British Youth Trials at Gosfield Lake, near Braintree, Essex, while using the standard 5ft high ramp.

Charlotte, from Wrestlingworth, Northants., who trains twice weekly, has also won medals at the British National Championships at Gosfield.

She now hopes to become the best water-skier in the world by mastering all three of the sport's main disciplines of slalom, tricks and jumping.

Charlotte has already travelled to far-flung parts of the world with her sport and represented the UK in a host of competitions across Europe.

Every summer she also travels with her brother Chris, 16, who is ranked 5th in the world in his age group, to Orlando, Florida, where she gets tuition from expert coach Tom Asher.

Charlotte's mother Catherine, 45, an account manager, said that she and her husband Paul, 48, a golf rep, has sacrificed a great deal for Charlotte's passion.

Mrs Wharton said that by the time her two children were 18 they will have spent up to £35,000 helping their kids follow their water-skiing dreams.

She described her daughter's achievements as incredible saying she was "fearless" and a worthy holder of the under-13s female jump world record.

Mrs Wharton said: "Charlotte's a real tough nut and sometimes when she hits the jumps I can't watch because there is a real risk involved with flying 100 feet off a ramp.

"I remember the first time she tried she fell off and but just climbed back on and kept practising until she made it - now there's no stopping her.

"She really enjoys the jumping. It's the sexy bit of the sport and the most exciting, once she hits that ramp she can get quite a spring."

When performing she hits the jump just as the speed boat peels off and tries to get her body into an aerodynamic position to leap as far as possible.

The youngster gets financial aid from Sport England to help make the most of her incredible talent and meet the cost of travelling abroad.

Charlotte said: "I love the thrill of flying over the water and the fact I get to travel around the world is fantastic.

"It's brilliant because my mum and dad get involved and we can be together as a family in a really fun environment."

Charlotte will be representing Great Britain in the European Youth Championships in France in August and is hoping to bring home medals.

The teenager will also be representing their country in the 2010 World Junior Water Ski Championships in Italy, where she will be chasing medals with brother Chris.

John Wood, the performance director at UK governing body British Water Ski, said that Charlotte was "extremely talented".

He said: "She is extremely dedicated and is out there training in the freezing water in the depths of winter and thankfully that commitment is paying off.

"She's a bit of a daredevil and for such a young person to be flying over those jumps is a real achievement.

"I look forward to seeing how she gets on in the European Championships next month."