An 11-year old “skinny kid” is Canary Wharf’s ‘Sports Personality of the Year’ after winning golds for diving.

An 11-year old “skinny kid” is Canary Wharf’s ‘Sports Personality of the Year’ after winning golds for diving.

Scarlett Mew Jensen couldn’t even dive off the edge of the pool just three years ago.

But that didn’t stop her getting two gold medals on one-metre and three-metre boards at the 2012 GB National Diving Championships—and two silvers at her first international diving event in Sweden.

Scarlett, from Romford Road, Stratford, was named ‘Top Sports Personality’ at the 12th annual Canary Wharf sports awards last Thursday.

“The award was quite a shock—we didn’t expect it,” said her dad, architect Steve Jensen, 46.

“She’s just a skinny kid, but incredibly efficient and strong for her age. She also won a cross-country race in October.”

Scarlett juggles her school studies with 14 hours of training every week at Crystal Palace. Her Chinese coach rates her on a par with Tom Daley at that age—with potential to join Team GB for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Sports talent seems to run in the family. Scarlett’s older brother George, 13, won cycling’s national ‘Time Trial’ championship last year for his age group.

Canary Wharf’s ‘Junior Team of the Year’ award went to Tower Hamlets’ Girls FC who won the London Youth Games Girls Football title and the MTG Champions Cup. They also defeated West Ham United’s women’s team and represented the UK in the MTG International tournament, narrowly losing the final to Sweden.

‘Senior Team of the Year’ was east London’s Helvecia team who have been Futsal English National champs since 2008 and holders of the FA Cup, ranked in the top 25 clubs in Europe.

The ‘Group Achievement’ award went to the Docklands Sailing & Watersports centre on the Isle of Dogs.

Canary Wharf Group’s secretary John Garwood said: “East London had an amazing 2012 hosting the Olympics. The challenge for the next generation is to harness the spirit of 2012 and carry it with them to be the best.”

The awards were attended by 340 sports personalities, administrators and dignitaries, including former East London MP and recent ‘Dancing on Ice’ performer Baroness Oona King.