Rebekah Tiler insists that she is already a winner, whether or not she walks away with the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award this weekend.

At the start of the year you could forgive people for not instantly recognising the name Tiler; at just 15 the young weightlifter is still finding her feet in the sport.

However Tiler certainly left her mark on her rivals in 2014, kicking things off in May when she became the youngest weightlifter to win a senior women's British title as she took gold in 69kg class.

That saw her called up to Team England for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where she narrowly missed out on a medal finishing fifth in the same category.

Tiler will head back to Glasgow on Sunday after being named on the ten-strong shortlist for the Young Sports Personality of the Year award.

And while she doesn’t expect to walk away with the gong, Tiler – who is up against five more of her fellow Team England stars – is simply happy to be among such esteemed company.

“I’m one of six Team England athletes in the top ten for Young Sports Personality and I just can’t believe I’m even on that list,” she said.

“I’m so proud to be there. I don’t expect to win as the competition, not least from my teammates is so tough, there are Commonwealth champions on the Young Sports Personality list, but to be there is amazing.

“I’m going to Glasgow for the weekend with my mum, I’ve got my dress and I’m so excited, I can’t wait!

“Being in Glasgow was amazing, I was really excited about being selected and about going to a big major event.

“The village was huge and a bit overwhelming, but everyone was so nice it was great. I felt so looked after by Team England and all the other athletes were great and treated me as one of them.

“I couldn’t believe the reception I got from the crowd – which was huge – when I started my competition, everyone just started cheering for me which was amazing.

“To have that experience at such a young age is amazing. I want to be World, Olympic and Commonwealth Champion one day and being in Glasgow with Team England has put me on that road.”

Since her Glasgow 2014 heroics Tiler has been somewhat quiet with a back injury stunting her rapid rise.

However now back fighting fit, Tiler is determined to not let her 2014 achievements go to waste in the new year as she eyes more Commonwealth glory.

“I’ve been injured since Glasgow where I hurt my back during competition so I’ve been having lots of physio since then,” Tiler added. “But I’m now back into full training and fully fit again.

“My next step is for the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa in September, I want to go out and bring home a medal, I can then work towards the Gold Coast in 2018.

“It’ll be a little be strange going to the Youth Games after being part of the senior team, but it’ll be good. I’ll be one of the more experienced on the team and I should medal.”

© Sportsbeat 2014