Schoolboy rower Liam Downes hopes to compete in the Olympics (photo: Chris Kay)

Britain’s Olympic hopes would weigh heavily on the shoulders of any athlete – especially a schoolboy. But at 6ft4in, rowing champion Liam Downes believes he’s built to take the strain.

While London prepares to host the 2012 Games, Downes, 17, is already looking ahead to the following tournament in Rio. “This is the last year I can qualify in junior competitions,” said Downes. “But hopefully I can go on to compete at the Olympics.”

Next month sees the second round of trials for the national junior rowing team at Eton, and Downes hopes that he can improve on his first stage performance in February.

“I wasn’t at my best in the first round as I had a bit of an injury, but I’ve been training hard and hopefully I can go flat out,” he said. Continue Reading