A YOUNG sportsman made a huge impact on the dwarf sporting world this month, heightening his dreams of competing at the 2012 Paralympics.

Michael Pope, 12, from Bricket Wood, isn't shy to small sporting successes and returned from the National Dwarf Games in Birmingham with a total of eight medals, one shield and a personal best.

He started participating in sports when he was just six after he joined the Dwarf Athletic Association and was encouraged to discover his hidden talent, taking part in the 2005 World Dwarf Games in Paris for the first time.

Michael, who is in his first year at Bushey Mead School, said: "I heard about the association in 2002 and decided to join up. Each year I take up a more sports. Badminton and shot put are my favourite.

"I used to be quite active when I was at school, but I hadn't heard of the paralympics when I was younger and I thought sport was something I would do if I wasn't disabled.

"I never thought I could make it like this. But we can do things that normal people can.

"I would tell other people like me to give it a try. I love it, it's fun and I've made friends.

"I want to be a disability sports coach when I'm older."

With the hope of taking part in the 2012 Paralympics, Michael visits the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield once a month to train with a special coach and group of other youngsters with the same disability.

He spends the rest of the month keeping fit by playing in the school cricket team, a disability football team, playing badminton with his dad at the Bricket Wood Sports Centre and athletics classes at school.

He achieved gold in under-17 badminton, hockey, football, basketball and shot put, silver in under-13 discus and table tennis, and bronze in under-13 javelin as well as the boys badminton championship shield.