GEORGE Kelman-Johns from Dorchester has been selected to be part of the swimming squad at the 2017 School Games National Finals.

The School Games are an integrated multi-sport event for the UK’s most talented school-age athletes and will take place at Loughborough University from August 31 to September 3.

16-year-old George, who is a student at the Thomas Hardye School and is a member of the Clayesmore SC, will compete for the England South squad in the Swimming.

He already has an impressive record of success, winning gold in British MC Nationals in 100m backstroke.

Around 1,600 athletes will compete across 12 sports at the School Games, seven of which include disability disciplines.

The four-day event is supported by National Lottery funding from Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust.

Kelman-Johns will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of some of Britain’s biggest sporting stars who have competed at the School Games before going on to senior international success.

Previous competitors include Paralympic champions Hannah Cockroft, Ellie Simmonds and Jonnie Peacock, Olympic champion Adam Peaty, heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson and GB sprinter Adam Gemili.

The School Games are the springboard for future athletes: 56 of the 382 athletes representing Team GB at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio competed at the School Games.

At the event, Kelman-Johns will experience the excitement of competing at the highest level.

He will live in a dedicated Athletes’ Village on the Loughborough University campus, take part in an Opening Ceremony and perform in front of huge crowds of spectators.

“Paralympics London 2012 and Rio 2016 really inspired me as it showed that your disability does not hold you back and Learning Disability Swimmers are included for a reason,” said Kelman-Johns.

Tickets for the event are available at ticketsource.co.uk/2017schoolgames