BOURNEMOUTH Athletic Club’s discus diva Phoebe Dowson has been thrown an Olympic challenge by her Polish coach.

But Ringwood School’s hottest sporting star may need some cold winter training in Poland first to help her reach sun blessed Rio, Brazil, in 2016.

Dowson took the under-17 discus world by storm winning a grand slam of major titles as she held her UK number one ranking for her age group all season.

She won gold in the South of England, English Schools (with a massive throw of 44.73m) and Home Counties International, England Athletics UK Open and UK School Games.

Dowson blew away the previous long standing BAC record of 39.08m held since 1974 on 10 separate occasions.

Now her priority is to win her GB vest next year and compete in the World Youth and European Youth Championships in France and Turkey respectively.

But her Polish coach, who lives and works in Bournemouth, believes his star needs a little winter training to help toughen her up for the challenges ahead.

Daria Swiacka, 28, a former top-ranking Polish junior and senior competitor, said: “Phoebe has worked so hard and I am so happy to see her progress.

“But I see much more potential in the next few years if Phoebe can improve her fitness levels, conditioning and technique.

“Winter training is essential to achieve this and I believe make her more than ready to compete at the top in 2011.

“I can see Phoebe throwing at the highest levels and if she can maintain this improvement her dream must be to compete in the Olympics.”

Sadly London 2012 comes around too soon for the 16-year-old A-level student but Rio four years later is her target.

Dowson is currently looking for a sponsor to help fund her winter training programme with her mentor.

• To sponsor Phoebe, please contact Paul Dowson on 07775 803790.

• Fergus O’Reilly and Ben Wilson both opened the cross-country season with victories in the Hampshire League at Farley Mount, near Winchester.

Bournemouth AC’s Reilly took the under-17 honours ahead of Poole AC’s Benedict Westhenry, while Poole Runners’ Ben Wilson won the under-15 boys’ race. BAC stalwart Mark Hargreaves also won his age group.

Elisabeth Hood was just two seconds from winning the under-13 girls’ event as Hannah Knapton (Winchester) proved just too strong, while her Poole AC club-mates Frank Bailey and Grace Howie each notched fourth-place finishes.

Joshua Nevin, Piers Copeland, Melissa Courtney and Abbie Hine all placed sixth in their respective categories.