A FOURTEEN year-old trampoline gymnast from Bridgwater is calling on people to help him achieve his dreams of one day competing at the Olympics, by helping out with sponsorship.

Corey Walkes - who lives in Radstock near Bath but trains at Quayside Trampoline and Gymnastics Club in Bridgwater - has been selected as one of just two boys in the 13-14 years age group to represent Great Britain at the 2015 World Age Group Trampoline Championships, to be held in Odense in Denmark later this year.

The youngster is well on course to be springing across TV screens at future Olympic Games, but for the time being he and his family have the small matter of finding over £2,000 to allow Corey to compete in Denmark, on top the £6,000 a year needed to fund training, travel, kit and competition fees.

Bridgwater Mercury:

Corey is in his second year of nomination by British Gymnastics to become a SportsAid Athlete, which allows access to a small amount of support each year, but competing for Great Britain at the World Championships is completely self-funded.

A fundraising page has been set up to help raise money and sponsorship for Corey’s World Championship trip – and you can visit it by clicking here.

If you want to see just who you’ll be sponsoring – click here to view Corey’s highlights video.Corey said: “I am so honoured to be selected again to compete for Great Britain.

“My preparation training for Denmark is going well but I know there will be stiff competition, as there are over 80 other competitors in my age group and 41 countries taking part.

“I will just go out there and do my best."

Bridgwater Mercury:

Corey is coached by International Performance and Head Coach, Sue Bramble at Quayside Trampoline and Gymnastics Club in Bridgwater.

His head of PE and form Tutor, Alison Weeks said: "Corey is a conscientious, dedicated and resilient young man with a drive and passion to succeed in both his sporting and academic avenues - I wish Corey the best of luck.”

Corey was first selected to compete for Great Britain (GBR) in 2013 at the 22 World Age Group Championships in Bulgaria, placing seventh in the world in the 11-12 boys age group.

Last year, he went on to win national trials and competed for GBR at the European Championships as the youngest competitor of all the under 19 men.

The GBR team narrowly missed out on a place on the podium, placing fourth. Corey then competed nationally at the 2014 British Trampoline and Tumbling Championships, winning his first gold medal in the prestigious annual event.

He followed his success with two more international gold medals - individual and team - at the Loule Cup in Portugal and topped off the year bringing home two World Silver Medals in both individual and synchronised trampolining at the 23rd World Age Group Championships 2014 held in Florida last November.

This year Corey has won gold at the national Spring Series Event in Coventry, was selected and competed for GBR in Russia and won gold and the 'Mens 13-14 Trampoline Elite British Champion' title at the 2015 British Championships for the second consecutive year.

He was also selected to compete in Portugal at the Loule Cup and has recently been selected to compete for Great Britain for the third time at the 24th World Age Group Championships in Denmark next month.

Coupled with winning the chairman of Bath and North East Somerset Sports Award for the 'Young Achiever in Sport' 2015, his whole schools' 'Young Achiever In Sport' Award 2015 for the second year and being announced as a finalist in both the Bath Chronicle Sports Awards (Young Sports Personality of the year) and the West of England Sports Awards (Aspiring Young Performer of the Year), Corey has continued to excel in his sporting achievements.

Bridgwater Mercury:

Competing both nationally and internationally for Great Britain gives valuable experience for Corey, who is the only boy in his age group to have not one, but two triple somersaults in his voluntary routine.

Corey’s mum, Pippa said: “We would like to thank everyone at Quayside for their continued support and anyone who has donated so far - as parents we all want to give our children opportunities to be the best that they can be but funding their dreams at an elite level is not always easy.”