Britt on top of the world

By Jonathan Veal

Winger Britt Goodwin insists there is nothing that can beat the feeling of being named in the Great Britain women's handball squad for the 2012 Olympics.

The 29-year-old was named in the 14-strong Team GB squad that will compete at the Games for the first ever time this summer, marking the end of a long road to London which began in 2007.

Goodwin was born in Norway when her father Steve, a professional footballer, was playing for Lillestrom and is no stranger to success, having won the Norwegian version of reality TV series Big Brother in 2005.

She enjoyed fame and celebrity stardom for a short while, though is adamant the prospect of playing for GB in London pales that experience into insignificance.

"I am absolutely over the moon," she told Press Association Sport at today's kitting out session in Loughborough.

"I have been in the team for the last five years. I have had to give up my job, give up by apartment, leave my boyfriend and come over here.

"But when this is what is at the end of it all, it's worth it.

"Before being selected it has been a bit unreal, but after today and seeing all the amazing kit, it makes everything a bit more real.

"It was an amazing feeling winning Big Brother in 2005 because it was the public that voted so that was nice, but it is nothing compared to the Olympics.

"It is every athlete's dream to be here and to be able to represent Great Britain in London - you can't really touch that."

Goodwin has been a member of a centralised camp that was set up in 2006 with the intention of developing a team capable of competing at the Games, but it has not been easy as they have faced regular spending cuts.

Despite that, GB, coached by Dane Jesper Holmris, have made remarkable progress, registering success against some of the top teams in the world.

"It has been tough at times but we focused on our training and we got through it and here we are now," Goodwin added.

"In 2007 when I first started it was four of us and we did wonder what was going to happen.

"But more players came in and now at the end we have just improved so much I can't even tell you.

"If you watch a game from us in 2010 and now it is just two different sides."