POWERLIFTER Tom Baty, from Wisbech, has been selected to represent Great Britain next year in the World Special Olympic Games. The Games will be held in Athens during June and July.

Baty, who has Down’s Syndrome, has trained hard over several years to reach the Olympic level. He will have to compete in three lifts - the squat, bench press and dead lift.

Tom won the gold medal for this weight class at the British Special Olympic Games at Leicester last summer and has recently competed in his first mainstream competition. He finished with a lift of 160kg to come second in his class at the Anglian Powerlifting Championships in Colchester.

Baty’s father and coach Richard said: “A very experienced powerlifter said that Tom’s performance was an inspiration to all of us.

“Tom really deserved his selection for the GB Team. He has trained and competed to the best of his ability, and is looking forward to the challenges over the coming year.”