Former Whitgift School pupil Joe Choong is Rio bound after bagging himself a place in Team GB’s Olympic modern pentathlon squad.
The 20-year-old, who now trains and studies at the University of Bath, finished seventh at last week’s European Championship in Bath.
It was enough to secure one of the eight Olympic qualification places.
Choong, from Orpington, said: “It’s the best feeling ever. It’s what I’ve been trying to do for four years now and to have finally done it is just amazing.
“It was definitely a home advantage, I could hear the crowd screaming as I came around the last lap and I thought there’s no way these guys are going past me now.”
Choong went into the combined run/shoot in fourth place after impressive performances in the London 2012 Legacy Pool and the show-jumping arena.
He had dropped out of the qualification places going into the last of the four circuits, but produced a flying final lap to secure seventh place.
Water-hero: Joe Choong in the pool
He added: “My grandparents said they want to go to Rio and that it may be one of their last trips abroad, so I'm really happy to have that place.”
“I can’t manage the same pace as these guys for four runs but I can do a decent one lap, so I was waiting for that and it worked,” Choong said.
“I didn’t have a weak discipline today and that’s what makes the difference.”
Jan Bartu, performance director with Pentathlon GB, was delighted with Choong’s performance.
He said: “It’s more than we expected from him. He had a fantastic day, well balanced, and he showed maturity because in this combined event, top athletes are running better than, him but he managed tactically to outsmart many of them and stole that seventh place.
“There is still a long way to go to the Games, but I think he’s got maximum potential. Stay healthy and focused and hopefully it is going to work for him.”
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