COMPETING at the London Olympic stadium, has put 17-year-old Daniel Cook on track for the Paralympic Games in 2016.

Daniel who has spina bifida, was one of only two Dorset students selected to take part in the Sainsburys 2012 School Games, a multi-sport event for the UK’s elite young athletes.

During the course of the day Daniel, from Poole, came second in a special 100m race for disabled students across the country and came fourth overall out of hundreds of competitors.

“It was very exciting to be at the stadium as it gave me a taste of what it would be like to compete in the Games,” he said.

Now the 17-year-old St Edward’s School A-level student, has set his sights on competing in the Paralympic Games in Rio in 2016.

For Daniel says he has always been determined not to let his disabilities limit his ambitions.

“It is important not to let anything hold you back. The hardest part is balancing my training with my school work as we are in the middle of exams at the moment. I have also started taking part in triathlons too.”

When he’s not training or revising, Daniel also helps to coach other young disabled athletes.

His mum Yvonne says she is very proud of her son.

“He faces challenges on a daily basis with his health and he is more susceptible to illness, but he always manages to fit in his training.”