Olympics fanatic Luke O’Dowd will be glued to his television screen over the next fortnight when the Games finally get underway in London.

The eight-year-old has been fascinated by the world’s biggest sporting event ever since he was a toddler and it has led him to taking a keen interest in swimming.

The St George’s Primary School pupil has just joined Tornadoes of South Dorset at the Osprey Leisure Centre, where he is hoping to hone his skills and take part in competitive galas when he is a little older.

Jo, Luke’s mother, said: “Up until a few weeks ago Luke swam with Weymouth Swimming Club but he has now switched over to Tornadoes because it is closer to home.

“Luke does enjoy playing other sports too but swimming is his main interest and one day he wants to compete.

“Having done some research on all the clubs, Tornadoes seem very good and he is already enjoying the sessions there very much.

“He took part in a charity event there recently where all the members in the club swam the equivalent of swimming to France and back between them.

“Luke’s little group of five did 63 lengths which is an extremely long way for such a young group and he thoroughly enjoyed it.”

O’Dowd has also always taken a keen interest in the Olympians on his doorstep with the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy set to host the sailing events for this year’s Games.

Jo added: “When Luke was younger we went to the Portland Heights Hotel to see some of the sailors when they came back from the Olympics with their medals.

“We managed to get his photo taken with Simon Hiscocks when he was just three months old after the Olympics in Athens, where Simon won bronze, and then again in 2008 with Sarah Ayton after she won gold in Beijing, and both times they let Luke hold their medals.

“It was also fantastic for him to see the Olympic flame recently. We went down to Easton to watch it come through and he absolutely loved it.

“He is now looking forward to watching the Games themselves, particularly the swimming and the 100m final.”