Moray family unites for Aussie Olympic hopefuls

TWO Olympic medal hopefuls will be cheered on by their proud Moray grandparents when the London sporting extravaganza gets underway next week.

Australian Olympic hopefuls Nettie and Alex Edmondson are being cheered on by their Moray grandparents Hamish and Elizabeth Ogilvie, mum Catherine and brother Chris.

But rather than rooting for Team GB, Hamish and Elizabeth Ogilvie’s loyalties lie with Australia’s cycling squad and their efforts in the velodrome.

For the New Elgin couple’s grandchildren Nettie and Alex Edmondson have both been selected for the Aussie Olympic squad after impressing in international competitions over the past few years.

And the cycling siblings’ mum Catherine has jetted back from Down Under to her hometown Moray to visit her parents, before heading down to London hoping to see both youngsters in action.

Nettie (20) will definitely compete for Australia in the individual endurance track competition (omnium), and is hoping to be selected for the team pursuit event as well.

And her little brother Alex (18) has come through the junior ranks to make the full squad, where he is contention to make the men’s team pursuit.

For Mrs Edmondson, who was born and brought up in Elgin and emigrated after meeting her Australian husband while teaching overseas, there is immense pride in seeing both her son and daughter make the Olympics.

“I’m incredibly proud of them both. It’s a huge achievement,” she said. “The fact that they are both in the elite ranks so soon after being in the juniors is just quite incredible.”