A brave teenager with brittle bone disease has made it into the Great Britain team as a weightlifter.

The 18-year-old has broken his legs so many times he is confined to a wheelchair, but is absolutely determined to make it to the Disabled Weightlifting Championship in Sydney later in the year and the Paralympics in Athens in 2004.

True grit - Gareth in training for the competitions in Sydney and Athens Picture: LUAN MARSHALL

Gareth Cooper, of Wickhay, Basildon, turned up at a junior championship last year just to help out for the Basildon team but ended up being spotted by England selectors after plucking up the courage to do some bench pressing.

His mum, Sandra, said: "I think it is brilliant how well Gareth has done.

"He has always seen his brothers playing football and achieving and I always knew he would achieve something for himself.

"He has worked very hard to get where he is and now I hope his determination will get him all the way to Australia."

Gareth will be taking part in three weight-lifting trials at the national wheelchair sports centre in Stoke Mandeville over the next few months.

If he continues to show potential, he will be heading off with other athletes to the big competition Down Under.

He said: "I always thought weightlifting was not for me because of my brittle bones, but something just made me do it at the junior championship.

"I have been in a wheelchair since I was five and pushing myself around has built up my muscles, so weightlifting seems to be the natural sport for me."

Published Thursday, January 9, 2003

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