Record-breaking Irish athlete, Kelly Proper, has been named as a Ford Ambassador. 

The 27 year-old Waterford native was recently presented with the keys to her new Fiesta ST.

Ciaràn McMahon, Chairman and Managing Director of Ford Ireland, said: "We are delighted to welcome Kelly as a Ford Ambassador.  As a hugely talented and committed athlete with her sights firmly focussed on the Olympics in Rio next year, she embodies the Ford brand promise of 'Go Further'."

From the age of 10, Kelly Proper showed keen promise as an athlete when she first joined Ferrybank Athletic Club in Waterford.  She has been the dominant force in women's long jump, 200 meters and Heptathlon over the past number of years and has won national senior titles a record breaking number of times in the long jump, 200m, heptathlon, 100m and 60m.

Kelly achieved an indoor personal best time in the 200m this February which placed her 2nd on the European rankings list and was only 7/100ths of a second away from the 2016 Olympic Games qualifying mark, which she is aiming to achieve this coming outdoor season.

In addition to being a full-time athlete, Kelly is also a physical trainer and she has worked with several senior county GAA teams.

Speaking of her appointment as a Ford Ambassador, Kelly said: "I am thrilled to be named a Ford Ambassador.  I spend a lot of time travelling to and from events around the country and my eye-catching Racing Red new Fiesta ST is the ideal car for travelling the highways and byways of Ireland.  It is so sleek and sporty and a great driving car that is also very practical for carrying all my gear and equipment."

Ahead of the 31st Olympiad which will kick off in Rio in August 2016, Kelly has a gruelling schedule of engagements that starts in June, with European Circuit events in Switzerland, Belgium and Germany; Grand Prix Athletics events in London and Vienna in July; and in August, the Irish National Seniors and the World Athletics Championships in Beijing.

"As Kelly embarks on the long road for qualification for the Rio Olympics, we in Ford are only too happy to play our part in helping to make that journey a little less arduous", concluded McMahon.

Kelly's Fiesta ST2 model is powered by a 1.6 litre 182PS petrol engine that uses Ford's award winning EcoBoost dynamics.  The highly specced model includes partial leather Recaro sport front seats; 17" alloys; specially tuned ST suspension with 15mm lowered ride height; ST body-styling kit; large front and rear disc brakes; and Ford SYNC connectivity and entertainment system.