Sky’s the limit for young sports star

A student at Merstham Park School in Redhill has been celebrating after winning a coveted place to represent England at his chosen sport.

Oliver Williams, who is in Year 11 at the school, competes in trampolining at the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Junior Level and is the only junior in the South East to be selected for this year’s England Squad.

The 16-year-old started competing in county competitions when he was 10, and has been trampolining since the age of three.

In 2018, he represented the South East in the Regional Team Finals in Birmingham and came third in his group, while his other sporting successes include placing in the top 10 at the 2023 British Championships junior male category, third place in the English Championships junior male category, and fourth place in the National Age Group Competition 2023.

“Oliver’s performance over the 2023 season led to his selection,” explained his mother, Debbie Williams. “His scores and performance (his execution, difficulty, time of flight, horizontal displacement) at events would have been monitored by the squad coaches at British Gymnastics.

“We are incredibly proud of Oliver, as we know how much he has wanted this from a very young age. He works so incredibly hard and rarely misses a training session.”

The talented young gymnast is attached to the Max Force Trampoline Club, where he trains for up to 13 hours a week, as well as spending time coaching younger members of the club.

“Oliver is the first trampolinist from his club to be selected for a squad, and I know that without the support from his coaches, fellow trampolinists, other trampoline parents, and the wider trampoline community, this wouldn’t have been possible,” continued Mrs Williams.

“Oliver enjoys learning new skills and the excitement of being in the air. He really enjoys being with his friends at training, travelling, going to competitions and having new experiences. He said he likes having friends from all over the country that love the same sport as him.”

His selection for the England Squad saw Oliver named ‘Star of the Month’ at Merstham Park, which is a member of the GLF Schools Multi-Academies Trust.

“Merstham Park have always paid a great interest in Oliver’s sport,” added his mother. “His heads of year, Mr Porter and Miss Walters, have been amazing, along with his PE teacher, Mr Geraghty. They have always gone over and above to make sure Oliver is supported in school.

“Oliver won the Reigate and Banstead Young Sports Person of the Year in 2023, after Mr Geraghty wrote a nomination for him.

“Through the teachers at the school, we have been signposted to the GLF Foundation and have been awarded some financial support, in the form of a grant, to go towards Oliver’s entry fees into the National Competitions.”

Following four training weekends with the England Team at Lilleshall National Sports Centre, Oliver hopes to compete in the Scalabis Cup in Portugal in July, and in the Home Nations Competition in Scotland in November. His long term goal is to take part in the Olympics.

“I feel proud to be representing England and I am very excited to wear the England squad kit,” he said.