Young athlete takes on triathlon championship in Russia

Zac Taylor, from Wednesfield, will take on hundreds of competitors from across the globe during the Kazan European Championships.

The Wolverhampton Grammar School pupil will swim 750m in the Kazanka river, cycle for 20km on a bike, before finishing at the Kazan Kremlin after a 5km run around the Russian city.

Zac said: "I'm not very nervous, because I love triathlon and I'm just really pleased to be doing it.

I'm really excited and just want to do well."

The young athlete, a member of the Black Country Triathletes, has been training for the competition after qualifying last year at a triathlon in Southport.

The 15-year-old added: "I train nine times a week and initially at the Southport qualifiers I wasn't bothered about the outcome because I just enjoy the sport and like doing it with my friends.

"Now I'm really looking forward to going to Russia."

He will compete in the under 20s competition on July 28.

Louise Taylor, Zac's mother, said: "I am hugely proud of Zac. I'm apprehensive but very excited about the competition."

Last year, two other students from Wolverhampton Grammar School, Oliver Evans, 18, and Oliver Mason, 16, also competed in the same event which took place in Glasgow and Ibiza.

The mother-of-one added: "Some friends introduced Zac to the sport and he really enjoys it.

"He started getting involved when he was around 10 years old and it's just a fantastic sport."

The youngster will start the six hour journey to Russia on July 24 by travelling to London before flying to Moscow and then Kazan ahead of the competition on the Sunday.