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Competing in an Olympic Games has been a dream for Glasgow badminton player, Kieran Merrilees ever since he began the sport as a 12 year old.
The wish is now becoming a reality following the West End 17 year old's selection as the sole Scottish badminton representative, in a team of six (the other five are from England), for Team GB in next month's Australian Youth Olympic Festival (AYOF), Sydney (17-21 January).
Competing in a major Games for my country has been my dream since I started playing, said the delighted 17-year-old yesterday.
I've never been to anything like this before so to be selected for the team is by far the highlight of my career so far. Ultimately my aim is to play in the London 2012 Olympics, so it's great to be recognised as someone who has the potential to do so.
Sydney will be a fantastic experience and a brilliant opportunity to prove myself. It will give me a good taste for what I need to do to reach the highest levels and one day be selected for the Olympic team.
The Hyndland Secondary pupil began his sporting life as a tennis player before switching to badminton, a game both his parents played. Whilst 12 was a relatively late age to start a sport he has been making up for any lost time ever since and now devotes six days a week to training.
Kieran is a member of Badminton Scotland's Lottery-funded Junior High Performance Squad, coached by Diana Koleva at the National Academy in Scotstoun. Support from the West of Scotland Institute of Sport for the past two years gives him access to sports science, sports medicine and athlete career and education services.
A singles specialist, Kieran is currently No.1 on the European under 19 rankings following a highly successful autumn overseas with wins in the Swiss, Croatian and Czech Republic Junior Opens. That success, combined with his winning the national under 17 singles title, has all contributed to his selection for the 100-strong Team GB bound for the AYOF, a bi-annual multi-sport event for young Olympic aspirants, hosted by the Australian Olympic Committee.
The AYOF's mission is to discover future Olympic Champions, provide them with an environment reminiscent of an Olympic Games and promote the Olympic ideals of fair play, honesty and pride in your country.
Over 2,200 athletes, representing 23 nations (including China, United States, Australia and South Africa) will compete, by invitation, at the AYOF. The athletes, aged between 13-19, will compete in 11 Olympic sports - badminton, canoe/kayak, diving, figure skating, gymnastics, hockey, rowing, sailing, shooting, table tennis and taekwondo.
Andy Wood, Badminton's Olympic Team Leader sees the AYOF as an important stepping-stone in the development of the young players. This is a very talented group of young players and we are looking to take this group through to the Olympic Games in 2012, he said.
The AYOF is a fantastic opportunity for them to experience a multi-sport event, for this age group there is no other competition of that scale. We are hoping to maximise their experiences in Australia as much as possible.
Mark England, Chef de Mission, Leading Team GB at the AYOF said, This is the largest Team GB squad selected outside of a Summer Games and provides a fantastic opportunity for over 100 of our finest young potential Olympians.
The BOA recognises the importance of participating in such events for the preparation and development of future Team GB Olympic champions. With the London Olympic Games less than six years away, now is the time to focus on developing our wealth of young talent. I am convinced that we will be following many of this team all the way to medal glory in 2012 and beyond.
