Lauren Fretwell is targeting the first ever Olympic karate competition in 2020 after winning bronze at the Junior European Championships in Bulgaria.

The 16-year-old, from Dodworth, is ranked tenth in the world for her age group after becoming the first Barnsley Karate Centre student to win a medal at a major international tournament.

Lauren, who competes in the non-contact kata category, said: "I'm absolutely buzzing and I still can't believe it. "It was the best weekend of my life. I need to give a massive thank you to everyone at the club.

"The support I have had from the minute I walked into the dojo in 2008 has been incredible. It's been the best decision of my life to come to this club and I am so proud to say I am from Barnsley Karate Centre."

Lauren is hoping to compete at the World Junior Championships in October in Tenerife while her long-term aim is Tokyo 2020 after karate was given Olympic status last summer. She said: "The Olympics are my goal. To get to that stage would be incredible. It will be hard but it is what I am aiming for. Hopefully I can get into the next Olympics but I am still young so hopefully I can have a few opportunities."

After winning 4-1 against a Ukrainian then 5-0 over a Bulgarian, she was knocked out by a highly-rated Slovakian in the third round who got to the final, meaning Lauren was re-entered in the repechage. She defeated a Bosnian 5-0 then won the bronze medal match 3-2 against a Serbian competitor.

"I was crying when I found out she had won a bronze," said her coach John Tumman.

"It is the best result we've had as club. We've had students at European and World Championships before but they've never won a medal. Hopefully she will carry it on and be our first Olympian.

"At Tokyo 2020, there will be the top ten in the world rankings and six wild cards. "It's going to be tough but she is definitely capable of it.

"Lauren has been so loyal to the club and done everything we have asked of her. She's been a lovely student. Her mum and dad need a lot of credit as well for driving her hundreds of miles to competitions all over the country."