Ryan Lee, a Year 11 student at Monmouth Comprehensive School, won the 60m race in a personal best of 7.21 seconds at the National Indoor Athletic Centre in Cardiff a week ago, followed by an emphatic win in the 200m.

Considering Ryan was going to give up competitive running a week before the event, thank goodness for friend Charlie Ainge's encouragement to 'give it a go', which led to him taking part.

Ryan's enthusiasm and passion has now been reignited and he is currently training again in an attempt to make the most of the fantastic opportunities now on offer to him.

Success at this competition has brought Ryan a place in the British U17 AAA 4 x 100m Relay Squad, which will take him to such places as Finland and Barcelona in the coming year.

Ryan (pictured with Charlie) will also be taking part in the England Athletics National Age Group Championships in Birmingham on 25th and 26th February.

He will also get the opportunity to train with the Olympic squad.

To add to his delight, Ryan has been picked for the 2012 International School Games to be held on the Olympic Track in London from 6th to 9th May, when he hopes to get a bus of supporters to the event to cheer him on.

"My ambition was to attend these games as a spectator but to be attending as a competitor is beyond my wildest dreams," said Ryan.