Commonwealth Games 2010: What Makes Zoe Smith Special?

By Sonali Shah

Zoe Smith made history by becoming the first English woman to win a weightlifting medal at the Commonwealth Games - her first senior international competition.

I met her on her last day of training before her big day in Delhi and instantly saw she had all the ingredients to become a star. She is both articulate and unbelievably talented. It is easy to forget that she is only 16 years old.

Hearing Smith recall watching the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games in 1998 as a four-year-old, I began to fully comprehend how big a deal this week was for her. But she was not letting the pressure get to her.

With a combined lift of 188 kg on Wednesday - including a personal best 85 kg in the snatch - that is exactly what she did. And she has a bronze medal as her reward.

"She's not only the first English woman to win a [weightlifting] medal, she's also only 16, which makes it more special," said her coach, Andy Callard. "I think I was probably more nervous than Zoe was."

It is clear that Smith's strength is as much mental as physical.

What is great about Smith is how normal she seems. Like any other teenager, she loves seeing her friends, spending time on the Internet and listening to music. What is delight­fully unusual about her is she can beat the boys in her sixth form in an arm wrestle.

London 2012 is Smith's next big challenge. Well, apart from getting through her A-levels, which come a few months before the Olympics.

"She has just finished her GCSEs and done incredibly well. Training five or six times a week and studying, she's shown she's able to do that by her performance," said Callard.

"It's huge. It's only two years away [but] two years from 16 to 18 is a lot of difference in performance, hopefully, and we hope she'll be among the best in the world."

On the eve of her competition in Delhi, Smith revealed how supportive her family are of her and said she was hoping she could do them proud.

http://news.bbc.co.uk

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► II. Writing

You are planning to celebrate your friend's birthday in a cafe and are going to come home later than usual. Write a note to your parents in which you:

• explain the reason of coming later tonight;

• ask your parents not to wait you for supper;

• promise to be at home at 11 p.m.

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► III. Speaking

Your family have presented you with a tour organized by a travel agency. Now you are talking with your parents. Tell them about:

• the place where you stay;

• the accommodations you have;

• describe the quality of food and the facilities.

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Examination Card #8

► I. Reading

Read the text. Write a short summary of it (5-6 sentences). Use your own words

to express the main idea of the text.