TWO young Hillingdon gymnasts have been selected to represent their club and country in the Acrobatic Gymnastic World Championships in China next month.
Callum Portugal-Walker, 17, and Keiran Blower, 12, are both still in school but also spend 19 hours a week training.
The members of London Borough of Hillingdon Gymnastics Club, based at Better’s Botwell Green Sports & Leisure Centre in Hayes, are being trained by 2010 Britain's Got Talent winner Alex Uttley, frontman of Spellbound.
Uttley, who also appeared on Loose Women’s Andrea McClean’s BBC4 2014 show Tumble, said: “I am very proud of what the boys have achieved so far and their dedication to the sport, especially having done it myself.
"I know how hard it is to train over 19 hours a week with a demanding programme and to be in full time education.
"We now have to get our heads down and work hard as we are in the four-week build-up to the World Championships.”
The young pair have endured a gruelling selection process and, by securing first place in two world trial selection events, were automatically selected for the championships on March 23.
They are receiving financial support from the GLL Sport Foundation, an independent athlete support programme.
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