Paralympic sailing may have been removed from the roster for the Tokyo Games in 2020, but Bristol’s sensation Mattie Reynolds insists he will not let that stop him dreaming of a gold medal.

The 13-year-old takes part in disability sailing competitions around the world, and was initially invited to become part of the Paralympic development training squad.

But Reynolds was one of thousands of disappointed athletes when the IPC announced in February that sailing would not be part of the 2020 Paralympic Games in Japan, potentially robbing him the chance of emulating his hero – four-time Olympic champion Ben Ainslie.

However, the upbeat starlet has responded by continuing to improve in 2015 and has been rewarded with a place on the prestigious 2015 Jaguar Land Rover Academy of Sport programme.

“My season is going well, in summer I did the nationals and last year I did the biggest sailing event in the world in Bath which was good,” he said.

“When I was younger I was in a very basic boat, and it was just fun splashing in the water, but now it is a bit more serious I am in bigger boats and it is faster which I prefer because you can race."

“Having a disability prevents me from competing with my school friends at normal school sports, but sailing gives me the opportunity to compete on an equal basis and is exciting."

“My biggest achievement was sailing in Weymouth with Ben Ainslie and some Paralympic gold medallists which is quite amazing – Ben is my hero because he is just great and top of the game in sailing."

“In a year’s time I am aiming for World Championships because Paralympic sailing has been taken out of Tokyo 2020 so I can’t aim for that. Hopefully it will be put back in for 2024 though.”

As part of the Jaguar Land Rover Academy of Sport, Reynolds experienced a once in a lifetime opportunity earlier this month as he attended a workshop hosted by former England captain Lewis Moody ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

Reynolds is in world class-company on the programme, with the likes of Jade Jones, who won gold at the Olympic Games in 2012 in London in taekwondo, one of the first recipients of an Academy of Sport bursary back in 2010.

He added: “The Jaguar Land Rover Academy of Sport is great as it pushes me more and more and I really like how much they encourage me. It’s been great talking to other athletes who have been through it all before and are where I’d like to be in a few years, and it’s been great to hear how they’ve progressed during their career.”

Mattie Reynolds attended the Jaguar Land Rover Academy of Sport workshop, mentored by ambassadors Lewis Moody and Maggie Alphonsi and SportsAid patrons Danny Crates, Bryan Steel and Kerri-Ann Payne. For more information visit sportsaid.org.uk