A CLYDEBANK teen has been selected to take part in the 2017 School Games finals.

Ryan Robertson, who is a student at the Glasgow School of Sport Bellahouston Academy and is a member of the City of Glasgow swim team, will compete for the Scotland North and West squad in swimming at the national finals in Loughborough University from August 31 to September 3.

The 15-year-old already has an impressive record of success, being Scottish under-15 champion in the 100m backstroke.

Around 1,600 athletes will compete across 12 sports at the games, seven of which include disability disciplines. The four-day event is supported by National Lottery funding from Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust.

He said: “Watching the Rio Olympics on TV and watching the success of the British team inspired me.

“You could see, with hard work anything is possible and I could be there one day.

“There are always challenges.

“I remember winning the 15 year old Scottish age group 200m backstroke race and being disqualified at end of the race for the final touch.

“You have to use those types of setbacks to motivate you to improve.”

Ryan will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of some of Britain’s biggest sporting stars who have competed at the School Games before going on to senior international success, such as Paralympic champions Hannah Cockroft, Ellie Simmonds and Jonnie Peacock, Olympic champion Adam Peaty, heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson and GB sprinter Adam Gemili.

Ali Oliver, chief executive officer of the Youth Sport Trust added: “The School Games National Finals provide a great opportunity for talented young athletes like Ryan.

“Competitors get a real taste of what it’s like to be part of a world-class sporting event at the amazing sporting venues of Loughborough University, and the event is a great way to see our future sporting champions in action today.”

Ryan will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of some of Britain’s biggest sporting stars who have competed at the School Games before going on to senior international success.

Tickets for the event are available at ticketsource.co.uk/2017schoolgames.