WALES lacrosse international Lottie Van-Praag has beaten Olympic icon Sally Gunnell at her own game less than three years after being first inspired by the golden girl of British athletics.
The 16-year-old schoolgirl from Usk took on the 400-metre hurdles ace on a track simulator at a trade show in Birmingham and ran out winner by more than two seconds - in her socks.
Later Lottie's father revealed Sally had been the inspiration behind his daughter's sporting success after the pair met at the opening of a new sports hall at her private school in Malvern, Worcestershire in 2008.
"The talk she gave on commitment and determination had such an impact on Lottie," said Steve Van-Praag, who lives in Usk.
"She made such a huge difference that Lottie went on to become the youngest woman to play for Wales lacrosse at senior level.
"The simulator was all a bit of fun – Lottie took part in her stocking feet. But I suppose it was fitting that she should be the one to beat the athlete who inspired her the most."
Sally and Lottie were taking part in an Xbox Kinect hurdles time trial set up by party giants Amscan on their "Pride, Passion, Party" stand at the International Spring Fair.
Former Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth champion Gunnell topped the leader board for the first two days of the competition after setting a target time of 18.38 seconds when she was guest of honour on the opening day.
But Lottie, visiting the National Exhibition Centre with her parents, shaved more than two seconds off Gunnell's best on the final day to claim a first prize of an Xbox Kinect, games bundle and 40-inch TV.
"Lottie is an all-round athlete and she has hurdled for Worcestershire as an under-15," explained dad Steve, who is an official of the Welsh Lacrosse Association.
"She has also played county hockey and was asked to play netball at county level too, although she was too busy to fit that in.
"Her real passion is lacrosse and last year she represented Wales at senior level even though she was only 15. She couldn't play for the A-team because of her age, so she turned out for the B-team.
"In fact, even before she reached her 14th birthday she had played in a senior exhibition match against the Czech national team and the German World Cup squad. You wouldn't think it to look at her, but she's a tough little cookie."
All this week Lottie has been in the United States with the full Wales lacrosse squad to play against some of the top universities including Harvard, Yale and Princeton.
She will be representing Wales in the Under-21 Home Internationals next month and is expected to make the Wales squad for the Under-19 World Championships in Hannover, Germany.