JOEL Mattacks is this week celebrating his selection to represent Great Britain at the Virtus Global Games in Vichy, France, next month.
The 20-year-old Team Bath athlete is just one of five athletes picked by SportExcel UK, whose mission is to promote excellence in disability sport, and will contest the 100m and long jump in the T20 category.
“I’m honoured to be selected,” said Mattacks, who will be making his international debut at the event which is the largest worldwide competition for athletes with learning disabilities outside of the Paralympic Games.
“We’ve been working for so long to get here so to have my first senior international GB call up at such a big Championships is huge, especially after having to miss last season through injury makes it even better.”
Mattacks joined Team Bath AC in 2013 and took part in Quadkids events as well as local Avon League and UKYDL meetings.
Not that selection represents the finish line. In these straightened times Mattacks’ GB vest comes with a price tag as the trip has to be self-funded so he has set up a JustGiving page to raise finance towards the trip. If you want to help then please click on the following link: