FORMER world squash champion Angela Smith was so proud to carry the Olympic Torch through her home city of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.
The 58-year-old, who lives in Bucknall, carried the Olympic Flame for 300 metres between College Road and Wellesley Street in Shelton.
Angela said: “When I first found out that I had been chosen I was asked to keep it a secret. I didn’t even tell my family.
“But all this week I had been getting very excited. It was a tremendous honour for me to carry the torch through Stoke-on-Trent.”
Angela’s squash career took her from Bucknall to the Bahamas.
She was the first professional female squash player, won more than 100 international caps and claimed titles across the world. Last year she became the first woman to be inducted into the City of Stoke-on-Trent Sporting Hall of Fame.
Angela said: “Throughout my squash career, the public has supported me whether I won or not so I used this opportunity to wave to the crowd and to thank the people for that.
“I had thought I would not be that overwhelmed when the time came because I just kept thinking about how fast it was going to go, but I was wrong.
“It was an incredible experience and not only because it put Stoke-on-Trent on the map but also because it showed Britain what an amazing city this is.”