Olympic dreams
Published on 17th May 2007 in News
ANTONY WILD - Hopefully heading for the 2012 London Olympics.
Sporting hopefuls are being given free use of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council's sport and leisure centres in the run-up to the 2012 London Olympics and Antony Wild, an Olympic hopeful from Howden, is taking full advantage of Goole Leisure Centre's services.
Antony, aged 14, whose sport is canoe slalom, said: "I do my gym- and land-based training at the leisure centre and I go to The National Watersport's Centre in Nottingham to do my other training."
Antony, who has been canoeing since he was nine, was granted free use of the Leisure Centre's facilities because he has reached national level.
Adam Toes, active programmes officer for the council said: "This is a fantastic scheme and it would be amazing to see an East Riding sportsman or woman involved in the London Olympics in 2012."
Antony, who does around eight training sessions per week, missed out on the Great Britain team selection races by just one point and is the second youngest male ever to get into the premier K1 division, jumping up 30 places since September.
Antony also receives sponsorship from local businesses such as Drax Power Station, MFI and Britspace to help him buy equipment. Adam Toes said: "We understand that training costs can prove to be very expensive, but East Riding of Yorkshire Council can help athletes so they have the chance to reach their full potential without having to worry as much about the expense of doing so."
Pride and joy
Antony's mum, Karen Wild said: "I am very proud of his achievements and so are all his family and friends."