IT was only two years ago that Rubin Vallily took up freestyle wrestling but the young Teessider has quickly established himself as a rising star in the UK and a big hope for the future.

The 12-year-old from Stockton - whose dad Simon won a boxing gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games - has enjoyed a glittering 2023, winning the English, Scottish and UK Championships as well as gold medals in prestigious competitions in Sweden and Finland.

And despite his tender age and the fact he's still a relative newcomer to the sport, the Grangefield Academy student has faced and triumphed against some of the world's best wrestlers in his age group.

"He only got into it a couple of years ago," says Rubin's mum Whitney,

"He's done jujitsu since he was about six and in competition he came up against a wrestler and loved it, so he started wrestling after covid and in that time he's made massive progress.

"He's on the Northern Regional Development Squad and trains once a month with the Great Britain regional squad in Manchester. His goal is to be on the British Wrestling Squad but he's not quite old enough for that yet. His ultimate dream is to go to the Olympics."

Rubin is certainly in good hands. He trains at the well respected Five Points Wrestling, in Newcastle, where he is coached by the hugely accomplished Terence Bosson - who won a silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and was a 27-time national champion - and Yaser Nokandi, a former national team member and national champion.

He's in good company at the gym, where his training partners are also champions, holding titles in British and Scottish wrestling.

And when it comes to the experience of competing at the very top level, it helps when your dad has achieved all that he did. Simon, now 38,  was a brilliant amateur and challenged for the English cruiserweight and heavyweight titles in the pro ranks.

Thanks to the transferrable skills of combat sports, Rubin trains in jujitsu and mixed martial arts and has an MMA fight fast approaching in February, in Bradford.

"He trains seven days a week, he's so committed, determined and disciplined," says Whitney.

"If you ask Rubin what he wants to do, he'll say he wants to go to the gym or go training. Obviously it requires a lot of sacrifice to reach the top and compete with the best, but it's what Rubin loves doing. He's had a brilliant year and he's deserved it, because he's worked so hard."