CYCLING ace and King Henry VIII pupil Rebecca James has won the Daily Telegraph-Aviva Sport Matters Female Pupil of the Year award.

17-year-old James who became a double World Junior Champion this year in track cycling as well as setting a new world record for the Flying 200, is also being fast-tracked to the London Olympics where she will prove direct competition for defending champion Victoria Pendleton in the individual sprint

James, who won two gold medals in Moscow is following impressively in the footsteps of compatriot and Olympic champion, Nicole Cooke.

James was presented with the prestigious award as she 'personifies the necessary balanced approach of a modern junior elite athlete in combining training and competition with her studies.'

The Judge of James's category Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson said, "Rebecca has shown the character, determination and desire to work hard in order to succeed."