A KEEN swimmer is heading to the Olympic Park in London in a bid to win the British Schools Biathlon finals.

Nic Cooper, 13, represented Wolsingham School and Community College in the Barnard Castle heat of the Biathlon Championships last October, when he qualified for the national competition.

The competition will take place in March in London’s Olympic Park, where the teenager will swim in the Olympic pool and run on the South Lawn.

The youngster trains six times a week with Wear Valley Swimming club and also swims at school.

He said: “I am really looking forward to going to London and swimming in the Olympic pool. I have been training six days a week for the event and I hope to get a new personal best.

“I’d love to win it but I know it’s going to be a good experience either way.”

Nic is inspired by Olympic gold medallist Michael Phelps and has an older sister who is also a keen swimmer.

“We both enjoy swimming and we are both competitive.” He added.

Laura Gibbon, head of PE at Wolsingham School, said: “Nic is an extremely motivated individual who strives to achieve and is a fantastic role model to other students. We wish Nic the best of luck.”