Stunning Exam Success For Bristol Olympic Hopeful
Brilliant student achieves top marks in her GCSE's alongside training for the 2016 Olympics.
A brilliant Olympic hopeful has gained 3A*s and 7As in her GCSEs - despite training 20 hours a week to compete internationally as a synchronised swimmer.
Anastasija Bates is part of the Great Britain Training and Development Synchronised Swimming Squad and hopes to represent Great Britain in the 2016 Olympics.
The 16-year-old trains for an exhausting 20 hours weekly - up to three hours a day - on top of all her school commitments, and competes internationally.
But as well as being a star athlete the swimmer has proved her credentials as a top student at Badminton School in Bristol - achieving an admirable 2A*s and 7As in her GCSEs.
Anastasija, from Redland said: ''Fitting in my synchro swimming commitments has been a real challenge but the staff at Badminton have been really supportive.
''However that doesn't put me off - I am really ambitious. I train every day and eat more than my Dad!
''I try and do 20 hours a week. I average about three hours a day, sometimes in the morning and sometimes in the evening.
''I love it. After my A-levels I plan to take a couple years off school so I can go swim for the senior Great Britain team, hopefully at the 2016 Olympics.
''I'm really, really happy with my results. I expected some Bs so I'm really pleased.''
Anastasija stunned her tutors by achieving A*s in Art, Core Science and Religious Studies while managing As in English, History, English Literature, Maths, Additional Science, Latin and Spanish.
Her PE teacher and head of year Tracey Hazell, said: ''She's one of the most dedicated sportswomen I've come across in my teaching career.
''Not only has she been so driven to manage all the training, she's also balanced that with her work commitments here at Badminton.
''But she always finds time for school, and even comes in to PE classes to give demonstrations to younger school groups.
''With her discipline and drive she's been an excellent role model to the whole of the school and she shows what a lot of hard work can actually bring you.''
Badminton, an all-girls school for 4 to 18-year-olds, finished top in the South West in this year's GCSEs.
All 100% of pupils writing the exams at the independent boarding and day school passed, with a staggering 87% achieving all A*s and As.
A whopping 57% of GCSE students at the school, which costs £8,840 per year for senior school boarders, achieved all A*s.
In 2008 the school, which was established in 1858, was ranked 3rd in the Financial Times top 1000 schools.
Notable alumni include Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, actress Rosamund Pike, and author Dame Iris Murdoch.
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