JO LEEDHAM has vowed to do Great Britain proud at this year’s London Olympics – even though she knows winning a medal is a distant dream.

Leedham, 24, of Little Sutton, is the star player of Team GB’s women’s basketball team and currently plays in one of the world’s top leagues, the Women’s National Basketball League in Australia, with the Bulleen Boomers.

But while Britain have earned a place in the women’s basketball tournament at the Olympics, they are not likely to be among the medal contenders.

Leedham, however, insists there is plenty to play for.

She said: “I know we’re not going to the Olympics to try and win a medal. That’s not what we’re about.

“We’re going to the Olympics because we want to show people in our backyard how good we are and inspire the younger generation.

“We just want people to watch us and respect us. We want people to see how hard we fight for the nation.”

Speaking in an interview with the BBC, the former Ellesmere Port Catholic High School pupil said she was thoroughly enjoying her new life Down Under.

“The Australians have got it right over here,” she said. “They work until they have to work and they relax and enjoy their free time.

“The league is amazing... the standard is really, really high. It’s got a lot of players from the Australian (national) team as many of them have come back to play in the league before the Olympics. To practise with people of such a high calibre everyday is amazing.”

Leedham’s move to the Boomers last year reunited her with the Melbourne club’s head coach Tom Maher, who also coaches British Basketball’s women’s team.

“Tom’s helped me so much – physically with sharpening up my skills but also mentally,” said the guard. “You can see in practice a thousand thoughts going through his head. He doesn’t miss a beat, he sees everything.

“He’s been a blessing to my game and GB Basketball – there’s no way we’d be playing in the Olympics if he didn’t come to our programme.”

Leedham, a guard, began her basketball career at school and also played for the Ellesmere Port Panthers.

She left home for the United States and made a name for herself playing for Franklin Pierce College Ravens team in New Hampshire, where her number 16 jersey was retired in recognition of her record-breaking performances.

A brief spell in Poland followed before Leedham signed for the Boomers last year.