Olympic hopeful is Burnley's 'rising star' (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Olympic hopeful is Burnley's 'rising star'

2:42pm Thursday 17th December 2009 in

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AN OLYMPIC hopeful has been given free and unlimited access to Burnley’s gyms and leisure centres to help his push to succeed.

Joseph Gillam, 17, a budding swimmer and triathlete, is the first youngster to be given ‘Rising Star’ status under a new council scheme.

The accolade is afforded to the town’s future sporting heroes who are nominated by their local clubs, and approved by experts.

Joseph, of Glen View Road, is hoping the extra training will help him achieve the physical condition needed to compete at the highest level.

The ‘Rising Stars’ talent support scheme is being run by Burnley Council in the run-up to the 2012 London Olympics.

Joseph, who attends Clitheroe Royal Grammar School, swims for Burnley Bobcats ADM, Rosegrove and Colne ASC, training around 12 hours a week.

He also does extra training each week specialising in triathlons, which includes running and cycling.

The multi- talented athlete is ranked 15th in Britain for 50m short course breaststroke in the under-17s category, third in the North West for 50m long-course breaststroke, and sixth for 100m.

He is also ranked second in Lancashire for freestyle in 100m, both short and long course, and won the Lancashire Championships.

Joseph said: “This will allow me to use different training and strengthening methods and be able to train more hours and improve identified areas in my development.

“These extra hours training will be used to improve my muscle mass, which is needed for the sprint events in which I compete, and it will also help to reduce my weekly training fees."

Burnley SPAA chairman Terry Hephrun said: “We will be looking to award the ‘Rising Star’ status to those who we see have the achievements and future potential to represent this country in the near future and beyond, maybe at the London 2012 Olympic Games.”