TOP performing twins are to go their separate ways for the first time in their lives to pursue diverse passions in elite sport and media.
India and Amelia Oates will leave for university soon after spending the bulk of their lives together at Barnard Castle School.
For the 19-year-olds it marks the end of a family association with the school dating back decades as their dad John also once worked at Barney.
“We have been together since reception – which is all of our lives that we can remember – it’s all we have ever known,” said India, an international para-sprinter. “We have been together every day so going to different universities will be very strange.”
Amelia, who is the eldest by two minutes, added: “We get on really well and even have the same friends. But you do tend to be referred to as ‘the twins’ so it will be nice to go to different universities and develop as separate people, though we will miss each other.”
The twins were born prematurely in 2002 at just 31 weeks, India with cerebral palsy. Both have thrived at Barnard Castle School with India taking up athletics at Prep School. She has just finished the two year British Athletics Futures Programme.
Having achieved an A* and two As at sixth form she has secured a place to study a degree in sociology at Loughborough University, where she will develop her 100m running talents by training alongside numerous successful para-athletes.
Coached by Andy Woodward and Helen Bowles, before the pandemic India was ranked second best in the country and eighth in the world in her discipline and she is working towards being selected for Team GB at the Paris Paralympics in three years’ time.
“I have been completely inspired by the success of Team GB in Tokyo,” said India. “They won so many gold medals and set so many personal bests and world records despite having to cope with the pandemic.”
Amelia’s ambitions lie in television, writing or publishing and after securing four A*s in her A Levels will now read a BA Hons degree in liberal arts in Leeds.
“I’m still not 100 per cent sure about a career and liked the sound of the course because it is very flexible,” said Amelia, who plays the flute and has been writing a column in a local newspaper. “Leeds has its own newspaper and broadcasting society so I’d like to get involved in those.
“I am sure India and I will be in contact with each other plenty and will also stay in touch with Barney through its Old Barnardian network. You never really leave Barney or each other.”