OLYMPIC medallist Steven Burke and England ladies footballer Rachel Brown are the motivation for sports aces joining a series of new sports academies.

Bejing hero Steven and Burnley-born goalkeeper Rachel, along with international hockey player Charlotte Hartley, have all fine-tuned their performances at Nelson and Colne College, which is now creating elite sections in football, basketball and netball.

And for emerging talent there are another couple of reasons even closer to home.

Natalie Haythornthwaite, 18, from Salterforth, is a member of the UK’s under- 19s netball side, and can play wing attack, goal attack or centre.

She is currently at Leeds Carnegie University and has ambitions to compete in the sport’s Superleague, as well as competing in the next world championships.

Under-18s heavyweight ju-jitsu world champion Tommy Allen, 16, from Brierfield, who was crowned in Blackpool just last November, is another college alumni.

College sports leader Catherine Stanworth has described him as a “reliable and hard-working student, deserving of his success.”

A Nelson and Colne College spokesman said: “The creation of the netball, football and basketball academies will allow talented sport students to gain access to professional coaching in their chosen sport.

“They will also benefit from an outstanding education at the college’s sixth form, which last year celebrated a 99.9 per cent pass rate at A-level – the best results in the area.”

The college is staging an open evening at the Scotland Road campus on Thursday, February 11, for anyone interested in enrolling.

Earlier this year Burnley College unveiled football, golf, netball and basketball academies.

The basketball arm is backed by Malcolm Leak, who was on the roster for the NBA’s LA Clippers.