GOLDEN girl Kasha Hampson is aiming to follow in the wake of her swim star brother Richard at university in the United States.

The 16-years-old Howe Bridge Aces star, who recently returned from the International CSSF Games in Malta with a haul of four gold medals, two silvers and a bronze, is working to win a scholarship to university in America.

The butterfly specialist and former pupil at St Ambrose Barlow Junior School in Astley, is hoping to emulate Richard, 22, who left the borough two years ago on a four-year scholarship to train and study at the prestigious SMU University in Dallas, Texas.

Former Leigh St Mary's High pupil and Wigan and Leigh College student Richard, is now in his third year and swims with members of the world beating US Olympic squad.

The Hampson family of mum and dad, Bernard and Gail, and six children, moved from Astley to Wigan in 2002 and Bernard said: "Kasha is impressed with what going to the US has opened up for Richard and she is keen to follow him there.

"Richard is doing very well academically and in the pool and knows the Games' 100m backstroke gold medallist Aaron Peirsol. He has swum against members of the medal winning team."

Kasha, who starts at St John Rigby College, is coached at Howe Bridge by Duncan Grime and is also with the Wigan Scheme of Excellence where her coaches are Keith Bewley and Les France.