Teenage archer aiming for Youth Olympics glory

A teenage archer who only took up the sport four years ago, is to represent Great Britain in the Youth Olympics.

Archie Christopher, from Solihull, will take part in the competition in Senegal, starting at the end of October.

The 17-year-old, who trains at the Meriden Archery Club, only made his international debut earlier this year, but will make history when he and the rest of Team GB take part in the first Olympic event to be held on African soil.

"Its a shock that I'm going to an event such as this, considering I've only made my debut this year", he said.

Archery is one of the world's oldest sports still played today, with historical records showing it was considered a sport by the Egyptian Pharaohs in the 15th century BCE.

The competition at the Youth Olympics will start on 6 November at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio, around 30km (18 miles) from the capital, Dakar.

Christopher said being part of the team to take part in the first-ever Olympic event held in Africa was special.

When asked about being told he had been selected for the Great Britain team, he said: "I was speechless really. I don't know how to describe it. There's no real words".

At 17, Christopher is one of the older members of the Team GB contingent heading to West Africa, and one of just two archers.

The teenager is currently studying for a BTEC in engineering, but is not sure what he wants to do after the course ends.

His father, Paul, said he actually found out before his son that he had made Team GB.

"I couldn't believe what I was reading and had to read it three times to make sure it was saying he'd been selected.

"I immediately forwarded the email to Archie and his mum because I was at work at the time and then phoned them up and we were all in bits."

However, even though his son is taking part in a history-making Youth Olympics, he said he will have to watch his son shoot on the TV.

"We have a younger son who going to be in school and can't really afford to take him out of school."

"We'll be watching and rooting for him from home."

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