Paul rides towards his Olympic dream
A CAITHNESS world champion has moved one step closer to his dream of competing at London 2012.
Team GB cyclist John Paul heard this week that he has been accepted into the Great Britain Olympic Academy for track sprint.
The 18-year-old, who is originally from Lybster but now resides in Oxford, gained a place in the prestigious training programme after taking the world title for the under-19 individual sprint at the Junior World Track Championship in Moscow in August.
The win capped off an impressive season for the teenager, who was also crowned a double European champion at the Junior European Track Cycling Championships in Portugal, where he picked up gold medals in the individual sprint and Keirin event.
He will be moving to Manchester later this year where he will join the GB team as a full-time professional in the under-23 squad.
The place at the academy is a milestone in his career as he will be fully funded by the GB Olympic team and will be training at the National Velodrome Centre.
Paul is very excited at the prospect of joining the academy and has set his sights firmly on trying to impress the coaches for a place in the Olympic team next year.
"It is excellent news in terms of my ambitions to compete at the Olympics in London next year," he said. "Being selected for a place at the academy will fully fund my training and it will allow me to reach my full potential.
"Without the backing I will now be receiving it would have been almost impossible to achieve my dream.
"Beforehand I was not able to concentrate on my career full time and had to fund my training through sponsorship.
"But now I will be able to work and train with the likes of Sir Chris Hoy, which will make life for me so much easier."
He continued: "The programme at the Olympic academy is all about recognising new talent which is capable of winning medals at London next year.
"That is my ultimate aim and with the backing I will now receive from the academy, I am confident of reaching that goal."
As well as working with Sir Chris, John will also be hoping to follow in his hero’s footsteps after being nominated for a prestigious award.
He is one of three athletes in the running for the Scottish Sportsperson of the Year.
Past winners of the trophy have included athletes such as Greame Obree, Andy Murray, Liz McColgan, Ally McCoist and David Sole.
The winner will be presented with the Emirates Lonsdale Trophy at a ceremony in Glasgow on Tuesday October, 25.
He said that he was honoured and excited at being nominated and making the short list.
"To be selected for the overall Scottish athlete of the year and not just a junior one is a very special feeling," he told the John O’Groat Journal.
"It has been a crazy 12 months for me, becoming national, European and world champion all in the same year.
"After a busy year, I’ve been fortunate to have enjoyed a break and just concentrate on my training. But I am fully focused about moving to Manchester and gaining a place in the Olympic team next summer."
