A Bicester boy will be competing in the Sainsbury’s 2015 School Games.
Thomas Thornley, aged 15, from Akeley Wood Senior School will chase high-profile success when he competes in the prestigious multi-sport event for school-age athletes.
One of 1,600 athletes taking part in this year’s games, from September 3 to 6, Thomas will represent England East in the swimming competition.
In total, 12 sports, seven of which include disability disciplines, will be contested at the four-day spectacular which is supported by National Lottery funding from Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust.
Thomas will be following in the footsteps of some of Britain’s biggest sporting stars.
Paralympic champions Hannah Cockroft, Ellie Simmonds and Jonnie Peacock, worldrecord -breaking swimmer Adam Peaty, heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson, world junior champion heptathlete and high jumper Morgan Lake and sprinter Adam Gemili all competed at the School Games before going on to elite success with Team GB and Paralympics GB.
At the event, Thomas will experience the excitement of competing at the highest level.
He will live within the Athletes’ Village, attend show-stopping opening and closing ceremonies and perform in front of a crowd of thousands at world-class sports facilities in Manchester.
Thomas said: “I feel very privileged to have been asked to compete in the Sainsbury’s School Games.
“It will be a great opportunity for me to develop as a swimmer and as an athlete overall. I can’t wait to get there!”