Latest News: KIM'S COMING TO A BEACH NEAR YOU!

KIM'S COMING TO A BEACH NEAR YOU!

It’s miles from Melksham to Malibu but that hasn’t stopped Team Jazz member Kim Smith from becoming one of the rising stars of beach volleyball. Braving the temperamental British summer to don the bikini and smash herself an ace, the Wiltshire student has set her sights on the London Olympics.

Beach Volleyball is one of the fastest growing female sports and is expected to draw the crowds at 2012 with a 15,000 seater stadium and beach planned for Horseguard’s Parade. The Brazilians and Americans are hot favourites but Team GB are determined to defend their home turf/sand and are aiming to build a strong squad for the games.

This summer Kim and team mate Phoebe Jeffery will be competing in the Volleyball England Beach Tour a series of tournaments taking place across the country from Margate to Skegness, culminating in a Grand Final in Blackpool on the 5-6th September.

Kim hopes the tour will help raise the sport’s profile in the UK: "Worldwide beach volleyball is massive, and it’s starting to take a hold over here now, we’re an island after all, we’ve got some great beaches. It’s also encouraging that sponsors are starting to take notice, being offered funding from Team Jazz has been a real boost."

Kim 21, got involved in beach volleyball through her local volleyball club Melksham. If you fancy hitting the sand and digging a spike, the beach volleyball UK website has details of courts and clubs: http://www.beachvolleyball.org.uk/ .