NORTH Yorkshire diving star Oliver Dingley has won a place in Team GB for the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney next month.
The 16-year-old from Harrogate has been diving since he was seven and is the reigning British men’s one-metre champion.
He is part of a 100-plus squad of elite athletes aged between 13 and 19 who will compete at the Festival from January 14 to 18 in 11 Olympic sports.
As well as diving, the event features archery, canoe/kayak, equestrian, fencing, gymnastics, hockey, rowing, shooting, triathlon and beach volleyball.
Team GB chief Mark England said the Festival would be invaluable experience for the British athletes as they bid to make the squad for London 2012.
He said: “With the London Olympic Games less than four years away, many of these athletes will be hoping to use this experience as a stepping stone to 2012.
“This festival presents a fantastic opportunity for more than 100 of our finest young potential Olympians to get their first taste of Olympic competition.”
In 2007, Britain sent 106 athletes to the Festival and 91 returned with at least one medal. The final tally was 14 gold, 20 silver and 14 bronze.
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